Venerable Barsanuphius the Hermit, Archbishop of Damascus

Another leap-day saint! Keeping Abba Cassian and Ósweald of Worcester company on the calendar today is a Palestinian monk who was in his life both bishop and hermit: Saint Barsanuphius of Damascus and Nitria. The Prologue of Ohrid contains the following treatment of this Palestinian saint for the twenty-ninth of February, who actually took the attitude of nolo efiscofari to extremes:

Barsanuphius was born a pagan in Palestine and was baptised in his eighteenth year and immediately was tonsured a monk taking the name of John. When he became known for his virtuous life, Barsanuphius was elected archbishop of Damascus. He did not remain long at this position. Yearning for the reclusive, ascetically spiritual lfie, he secretly left Damascus and went to the wilderness of Nitria. Here, he presented himself as the monk Barsanuphius and immediately was assigned, as an obedience, to be a water-carrier for the monastery. The former archbishop accepts his obedience with joy. With his wise reflections, meekness and diligence, Barsanuphius soon became a model example to all the monks. Only before his death was it revealed to the monks who this Barsanuphius was. Thus this saint, by his example, served as a reproach to the proud and power-loving and as a comfort to the humble and meek. He died peacefully and took up habitation with the Lord in the year 457 AD.

Venerable Barsanuphius, exemplary archbishop who embodied true humility, pray unto Christ our God on behalf of us sinners!