Venerable Erasmus, Monk of the Caves

Life

He inherited great wealth from his parents and spent it all on the adornment of churches, especially on the silvering and gilding of icons. And when he became poor and was left with nothing, he was despised by everyone. The devil whispered to him that he had squandered his estate in vain: instead of distributing it to the poor, he had given it for the adornment of churches. Erasmus yielded to this temptation and believed it, on account of which he despised himself and fell into despair and began to live in a dissolute and lawless manner. When the hour of death drew near, the brethren gathered around him and were speaking of his sins, for he was no longer conscious of himself. At a certain point he raised himself up in his bed and said: "Fathers and brethren, it is as you say — I am a sinner and unrepentant, but behold, Saints Anthony and Theodosius have appeared to me, and then the Most Holy Theotokos, and they said that the Lord has granted me yet more time for repentance." The Theotokos had also said to him words of encouragement: "The poor you have with you in every place, but My churches you do not have." He lived yet three more days, repented, and fell asleep in the Lord. This teaches us that zeal for the church and the adornment of churches is a work pleasing to God. Saint Erasmus reposed in the year 1160.