THE PARAGON January 11/24 ns 2026 • Saturday after Theophany ~ St. Theodósios the Cœnobiarch, St. Vitálius Saint: II Cor. 4:6-15; : St. Matt. 4:1-11

Rejoice, thou through whom

the Creator was born a babe.

Saturday after the Holy Theophany of our

Lord Jesus Christ

January 11/24 new style 2026

SAINT THEÓDOSIOS THE COENOBIARCH

SAINT VITÁLIUS

Theodósios lived during the fifth-sixth centuries, and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism. He was born in Cappadocia of pious parents. Endowed with a splendid voice, he zealously toiled at church reading and singing. St. Theodosios prayed fervently that the Lord would guide him on the way to salvation. In his early years he visited the Holy Land and met with St. Symeon the Stylite, who blessed him and predicted future pastoral service for him.

Yearning for the solitary life, Saint Theodosios settled in Palestine into a desolate cave, in which, according to Tradition, the three Magi had spent the night, having come to worship the Savior after His Nativity. He lived there for thirty years in great abstinence and unceasing prayer. People flocked to the ascetic, wishing to live under his guidance. When the cave could no longer hold all the monks, St. Theodosios prayed that the Lord Himself would indicate a place for the monks. Taking a censer with cold charcoal and incense, the monk started walking into the desert.

At a certain spot the charcoal ignited by itself and the incense smoke began to rise. Here the monk established the first cenobitic monastery, or Lavra (meaning "broad" or populous"). Soon the Lavra of St. Theodosios became renowned, and up to 700 monks gathered at it. According to the final testament of St. Theodosios, the Lavra rendered service to neighbor, giving aid to the poor and providing shelter for wanderers.

St. Theodosios was extremely compassionate. Once, when there was a famine in Palestine and a multitude of people gathered at the monastery, the monk gave orders to allow everyone into the monastery enclosure. His disciples were annoyed, knowing that the monastery did not have the means to feed all those who had come. But when they went into the bakery, they saw that through the prayers of the abba, it was filled with bread. This miracle was repeated every time St. Theodosios wanted to help the destitute.

2 Corinthians 4:6-15 KJV 

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Saint Matthew 4:1-11 KJV

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

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St. Neilos the Ascetic

FOR THE SOUL ALONE

Holy m​en resolved to live for the soul alone, turning away from the body and its wants. The fact of needing nothing made them ​superior to all men. They chose to forsake the body and to free themselves from life in the flesh, rather than to betray the cause of ​holiness and, because of their bodily needs, to flatter the wealthy. But as for us, when we lack something, instead of struggling courageously against our difficulties, we come falling to the rich, like puppies, wagging their tails in the hope of being tossed to ​bear ​bone or some crumbs.

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St. Thalassios the Libyan,

RENUNCIATION 

“On Love, Self-Control and Life in Accordance with the Intellect”

“The first renunciation is that of material things, the second that of the passions, the third that of ignorance.”

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