Saint of the Day – 18 October – Saint Julian Sabas the Hermit (4th Century)

Saint of the Day – 18 October – Saint Julian Sabas the Hermit (4th Century) Confessor and miracle-worker. He lived an ascetic life of fasting and prayer. He is also known as St Julian the Hermit of Mesopotamia.

St Julian, for his wisdom and prudence, was surnamed Sabas, which signifies in Syriac, the Grey or Old Man.

He flourished in the fourth century, living first in a damp cave near Edessa in Mesopotamia and afterwards on Mount Sinai in Arabia. Austere penance, manual labour and assiduous prayer and contemplation were the means by which he sanctified his soul.

He saw in spirit the death of Julian the Apostate in Persia, by which God delivered His Church from the storm with which that persecutor then threatened it.

When the Arians under Valens, were abusing the Church of Christ, he left his solitude and went to Antioch to dispute them and there, he wrought many miracles. When he had given an ample testimony to the true faith, he returned to his cell, where he instructed a great number of disciples, who edified the Church long after his death.

St John Chrysostom calls him a wonderful man and describes the great honour with which he was venerated both while he lived and after his death.

Through the efforts of Saint Julian, a Church was built on Mount Sinai, in memory of the obtaining of the tablets of the Law, by the holy Prophet Moses. The Church was built were it is believed that Moses was standing, when he received the tablets.