By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
Our Holy Church today commemorates the Venerables Auxentius, Abraham and Maron and the Hieromartyrs, Bishops Philemon and Philip of Gaza.
Saint Auxentius lived in Constantinople and served at the court of the emperor Theodosius the Younger as a Scholarius. He was distinguished for his deep piety, his biblical presence, his decency, his physical strength and his moral wealth. His love for ascetic life led him to become a monk. He thus abandoned the honors and offices of Constantinople and retired to a remote mountain where he practiced asceticism.
At the same time he was involved in the study of the Bible. He was so famous for his rare virtues and his profound theological education that he was invited as a mere monk at the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in 451 AD to condemn the evil deeds of Archimandrite Eutyches and Archbishop Nestorios.
Every day there were many who visited Venerable Auxentius in his hermitage to comfort and heal them.
Several Christians also approached him to show their respect and appreciation on his face, offering him gifts and food, which the Venerable subsequently distributed to the poor.
Venerable Auxentius died in an old age, remaining one more example of genuine offering and venerable life.
Source: Church of Cyprus
