Our Holy Church today commemorates the Venerables Auxentius, Abraham and Maron, and the Hieromartyrs, Bishops Philemon and Philip of Gaza.
St. Auxentius lived in Constantinople and served as a scholar at the court of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. He was noted for his deep piety, biblical presence, decency, physical strength, and moral richness. His love for the ascetic life led him to become a monk. He gave up the honors and offices of Constantinople and retired to a remote mountain where he practiced asceticism.
At the same time, he devoted himself to the study of the Bible. He was so famous for his rare virtues and profound theological education that he was invited as a simple monk to the Fourth Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in 451 A.D. to condemn the evil deeds of Archimandrite Eutyches and Archbishop Nestorios.
Every day, many people visited Venerable Auxentius in his hermitage to comfort and heal him.
Several Christians also approached him to show their respect and appreciation for his face, offering him gifts and food, which the Venerable then distributed to the poor.
Venerable Auxentius died in old age, leaving behind him another example of true sacrifice and a venerable life.
Source: Church of Cyprus
