Saint Arsenius the Great was born in the year 354 at Rome into a
pious Christian family, which provided him a fine education and
upbringing. He studied rhetoric and philosophy, and mastered the Latin
and Greek languages. St Arsenius gave up philosophy and the vanity of
worldly life, seeking instead the true wisdom praised by St James “pure,
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good
fruits” (Jas. 3:17). He entered the ranks of the clergy as a deacon in
one of the Roman churches, dedicating himself to the service of God.
The
emperor Theodosius (379-395), who ruled the eastern half of the Roman
Empire, heard about his erudition and piety, and he wished to entrust
Arsenius with the education of his sons Arcadius and Honorius. Arsenius,
however, protested that he had given up secular studies in order to
serve God. Against his will, but in obedience to the will of Pope
Damasus (December 11), St Arsenius agreed to teach the imperial
children, hoping to teach them Christian piety as well.
When he
arrived at Constantinople, Arsenius was received with great honor by the
emperor Theodosius, who charged him to educate his sons not only in
wisdom, but also in piety, guarding them from the temptations of youth.
“Forget that they are the emperor’s sons,” said Theodosius, “for I want
them to submit to you in all things, as to their father and teacher.”
With
fervor the saint devoted himself to the education of the youths, but
the high esteem in which he was held troubled his spirit, which yearned
for the quietude of monastic life. St Arsenius entreated the Lord to
show him the way to salvation. The Lord heard his prayer and one time he
heard a voice telling him, “Arsenius, flee from men, and you shall be
saved.” And then, removing his rich clothing and replacing it with old
and tattered garments, he secretly left the palace, boarded a ship for
Alexandria, and he made his way to Sketis, a monastery in the midst of
the desert.
Arriving at the church, he asked the priests to
accept him into the monastic brotherhood, calling himself a wretched
wanderer, though his very manner betrayed him as a cultivated man. The
brethren led him to Abba John the Dwarf (November 9), famed for his
holiness of life. He, wishing to test the newcomer’s humility, did not
seat Arsenius with the monks for the trapeza meal. He threw him a piece
of dry bread saying, “Eat if you wish.” St Arsenius got down on his
hands and knees, and picked up the bread with his mouth. Then he crawled
off into a corner and ate it. Seeing this, Elder John said, “He will be
a great ascetic!” Then accepting Arsenius with love, he tonsured him
into monasticism.
St Arsenius zealously passed through his
obediences and soon he surpassed many of the desert Fathers in
asceticism. The saint again heard the Voice while he was praying,
“Arsenius, hide from people and dwell in silence, this is the root of
virtue.” From that moment St Arsenius settled in a solitary cell deep in
the desert.
Having taken on the struggle of silence he seldom
left his seclusion. He came to church only on Sundays and Feast days,
observing complete silence and conversing with no one. When Abba Moses
asked him why he hid himself from people, St Arsenius replied, “God
knows that I love you, but I cannot remain with God and with men at the
same time. The Heavenly Powers all have one will and praise God
together. On earth, however, there are many human wills, and each man
has his own thoughts. I cannot leave God in order to live with people.”
Though
absorbed in constant prayer, the saint did not refuse visiting monks
with his counsel and guidance, giving short, but perceptive answers to
their questions. Once, a monk from Sketis saw the great Elder through a
window standing at prayer, surrounded by a flame.
The handicraft
of St Arsenius was to weave baskets, for which he used the fronds of
date palms soaked in water. For a whole year St Arsenius did not change
the water in the container, but merely added a little water to it from
time to time. This caused his cell to be permeated with a foul stench.
When asked why he did this, the saint replied that it was fitting for
him to humble himself in this way, because in the world he had used
incense and fragrant oils. He prayed that after death he would not
experience the stench of hell.
The fame of the great ascetic
spread far, and many wanted to see him, and they disturbed his
tranquility. As a result, the saint was forced to move around from place
to place. But those thirsting to receive his guidance and blessing
still found him.
St Arsenius taught that many take upon
themselves great deeds of repentance, fasting, and vigil, but it is rare
for someone to guard his soul from pride, greed, jealousy, hatred of
one’s brother, remembrance of wrongs, and judgment. In this they
resemble graves which are decorated outwardly, but filled with stinking
bones.
A certain monk once asked St Arsenius what he should do
when he read the Holy Scriptures and did not comprehend their meaning.
The Elder answered, “My child, you must study and learn the Holy
Scriptures constantly, even if you do not understand their power... For
when we have the words of the Holy Scriptures on our lips, the demons
hear them and are terrified. Then they flee from us, unable to bear the
words of the Holy Spirit Who speaks through His apostles and prophets.”
The
monks heard how the saint often urged himself on in his efforts with
the words, “Rouse yourself, Arsenius, work! Do not remain idle! You have
not come here to rest, but to labor.” He also said, “I have often
regretted the words I have spoken, but I have never regretted my
silence.”
The great ascetic and keeper of silence was given the
gift of tears with which his eyes were constantly filled. He spent
fifty-five years at monastic labors and struggles. He spent forty years
at Sketis, and ten years on the mountain of Troe near Memphis. Then he
spent three years at Canopus, and two more years at Troe, where he fell
asleep in the Lord.
Our holy, God-bearing Father Arsenius reposed when he was nearly one hundred years old, in the year 449 or 450.
His only disciples seem to have been Alexander, Zoilos, and Daniel (June 7).
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / And your longing
for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of
miracles you illumined the whole universe. / O our holy Father Arsenius,
pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 2
Arising from Rome, as a sun, you reached the royal city, / Enlightening it, O most blessed one, by your words and deeds. / You drove out the darkness of unreasoning. / Therefore we honor you, Arsenius, the glory of the Fathers!
Source Oca.org
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