The Protector of Children
Saint Stylianos was
born in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor, between 400 and 500. He was blessed even from
his mother’s womb. As he grew up, by the grace of God he increasingly became a
dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. From childhood he displayed the rare
qualities of his blessed life. When he was young and still an adolescent,
although, of course, he was of the flesh, he never allowed desires to pollute
his spirit and soul. He was very pure. Nor did he allow any earthly passion to
dominate him. He would not permit riches and the love of wealth to permeate his
soul and subject him to corruption and perdition.
His pure and
faithful heart obeyed the voice of his soul. His first act was to sell his
belongings and give the proceeds to the poor of the Church. When nothing
remained of his inheritance [sources disagree on whether this was large or next
to nothing], he was greatly relieved and said “I have cast off a heavy anchor
that was keeping me tied to the desires of this mortal flesh. I have discarded
corruption and perdition. Now I see before me more plainly the road to real
life”. Now relieved of his burden, and with a glad heart, because he had spent
his wealth on the unfortunate poor and on other works pleasing to God, the
saint considered how to live a more honourable and saintly life.
His vigils were
amazing. He set himself three aims to achieve as a monk: poverty, chastity and
obedience. And he achieved them all. We have already seen his poverty: he did
not keep anything at all for himself, nor did he attempt to acquire anything
for himself in life. He lived in poverty and complete penury.
So Saint Stylianos
proved to be a stalwart of the ascetic life. He became an example to young and
old alike and was a model to be imitated. But the austerity of his ascetic life
did not satisfy him and he wished to approach ever more closely to perfection.
He now desired complete isolation and the strictest asceticism: that of a
hermit. He bade farewell to his fellow monks in the monastery and retreated far
off into the desert away from all habitation. There, in the desert, he lived in
a cave.
The new phase of
his ascetic life was aimed at celestial perfection. The days and nights went by
with contemplation, thoughts, and prayers to the Triune God. With all his
heart, he hymned God’s majesty, he sang praises to the Holy Trinity. He lived
united to God Nothing disturbed his divine serenity.
Everything around
him and whatever appeared on the far horizon were for him nothing but proof of
the Creator. He studied God’s creation and this strengthened his faith even
more.
There, in the peace
of the desert, the hermit Stylianos had the time to observe God’s creation and
meditate upon it. He saw the Creator in all things, because he reasoned that it
was impossible for this wonderful world to have come about by itself, given
that it is so beautiful, intentional and harmonious. He saw God in the infinite
number of stars in the sky, which whirl through vast space at such speed and
with such accuracy.
He saw all this and
raised his voice as David had done before him: “The heavens declare the glory
of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands”. Then he would break
into a doxology: “How magnificent are Your works, Lord”. You have made
everything in wisdom. The earth has been filled with Your creation”.
He read and re-read
two books in the desert: the book of nature and that of Holy Scripture. His
heart, his understanding, his soul, his whole being was fervently given over to
God. A divine and sacred trembling would pass through his ascetic flesh, as his
soul delved ever deeper into the beauty of the divine creation. The holy
passion of Saint Stylianos’ love for the most holy Name of God shook him to the
core. The whole of his strength was concentrated on this divine love. And so
the saint abandoned his fleshly existence.
He ceased to care at all about food and nourished himself on desert
plants. When there were none of these, God did not leave him in want. God, Who
works wonders for His saints, for them and through them, did not allow the
blessed man to fade away from hunger. He kept him alive by sending him food at
the hands of angels, as He had done with the Prophet Elijah and Saint Mark the
Athenian, the philosopher, among others.
The Creator wanted
Saint Stylianos to continue living, wanted his virtue to shine and wanted him
to be a model for others with the austerity of his ascetic life. He wanted this
animate pillar of abstinence, the bright light of the desert, to shine
throughout the world. God wanted his virtues to manifest themselves. But a lamp
needs to be set on high, not to be hidden under a bushel. So when certain
people are radiant through their virtues, God manifests them so that they can
light the way of others on the road.
Thus, once Saint
Stylianos had been adorned with virtues and was like a candle flaming with
warm, sweet light, once he had reached the heights of virtue hard even to
envision, he was able to transmit to people the gladsome light of his sanctity,
for the glory of God and the salvation of other people. God, Who is just, would
again demonstrate to people how He returns glory to those who worship His
name and glorify Him.
All kinds of
illnesses disappeared. No sickness could resist the power of God. Mothers wept
for joy at his hermitage. Others covered his hand with kisses, out of respect
for and gratitude to the elder, praising God the while. The hermit praised His
Holy Name unceasingly and thanked Him for these miracles which He had permitted
him to work. Then, with great affection, he would look at the innocent little
creature who had been released from sickness. A sweet smile, that of an angel,
would brighten the face of the venerable ascetic. These miracles became known
everywhere, and a great many people flocked to the saint to ask him to cure
their children from some illness or other.
Indeed, after his departure
from this life, many good Christians invoked the name of the saint and, as a
sacred obligation, copied his icon and then had children, even if they had
given up all hope of doing so.
Apart from this,
people went from all the monasteries to visit the ascetic elder and rejoice in
his company, in the fragrance of his sanctity. Monks and ascetics asked advice
of the saintly teacher regarding how to face temptation and how to keep the
peace in their coenobitic monasteries. Everyone saw him as a model of the
ascetic life. His personality was entirely humble and radiated celestial
beauty.
He was tireless in
teaching them, with angelic serenity. He guided them, he filled their hearts,
confirmed their faith and dispelled their doubts. With his advice from afar, he
brought peace to monasteries that were experiencing internal strife. And so Saint Stylianos lived and glorified
the name of God and was glorified by our Heavenly Father. When he was well
stricken in years, God sent His angels and they took his holy soul, so that he
might rest from his long labours, his privations and the harshness of his
ascetic life. The saint fell asleep in the Lord, full of days and virtues.
We do not know
where they buried him, nor has any other evidence survived of his exhausting
and saintly life. But his name has lived on. All Orthodox Christianity respects
and honours him. We call upon him in times of need and, above all, for our
children when they are sick. We build
magnificent churches in his name. The miracles of the saint continue even after
his demise. To this day, Saint Stylianos continues to be the protector of
children.
The saint is
represented in his icon as holding an infant, swaddled, in his embrace, which
represents the fact that he is the protector of children. We celebrate his
memory on 26 November.
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