The Venerable Dius

Life

By origin from Antioch of Syria, of Christian parents. In his youth he was instructed in the monastic life and asceticism by God-inspired men. After enduring a prolonged and arduous battle against the devil and bodily lust, he was granted by God the great gift of wonderworking. In his prayers he most frequently turned to the Holy Trinity. He worked great and awesome miracles by the power of his prayer: thus he caused a dry staff to become green, a dry well to fill with water, and an unfaithful man to die and then be raised again. After a certain twofold heavenly vision, he left Antioch and moved to Constantinople, where near the city he continued his ascetic labor. His fame soon spread, so that even Emperor Theodosius the Younger visited him to receive counsel from him, and Patriarch Atticus prevailed upon him and ordained him as a presbyter. Having lived many years, he prepared himself for death, received Holy Communion, instructed the brethren, lay down upon his bed, and before the eyes of all was dead. The news of his death drew a great multitude; the Patriarch Atticus also came, together with the Patriarch Alexander of Antioch. But when they were about to bury him, he suddenly arose as though awakened from sleep and said: "God has granted me fifteen more years of this life." And Saint Dius lived exactly fifteen more years, and guided many on the path of salvation, healed many, helped many in various afflictions and misfortunes, and at last surrendered his soul to the Lord, Whom he had faithfully served his whole life. He reposed in the year 430, in deep old age.