Saint Agabbas the Hermit of Syria

Today is the feast-day in the Orthodox Church of Saint Agabbas (also, evidently, ‘Abbâs عباس or Âġâ ‘Abbâs آغا عباس) the Syrian, who lived during the 400s. His hagiography names him among the Banû ’Ismâ‘îl بنو اسماعيل (that is to say, he was an Arab). He pursued the ascetic life in Syria, and was a novice under a monk named Eusebios, from whom he learned the practice of hesychasm: inward prayer and silence. Saint Agabbas lived as a hermit for thirty-eight years and practised a stringent form of asceticism. He always went about barefoot, wore heavy chains around his loins, and never sat or lay down. He spent all his time either standing or kneeling, and prayed constantly. He finished his ascetic life in peace. Venerable Agabbas, holy ascetic and hesychast, pray unto Christ our God that our souls may be saved!