Venerable Onuphrius the Great

Life

This holy ascetic had lived a full sixty years in the desert when the monk Paphnutius visited him. His hair and beard reached to the ground, and his body was covered with long hair because of his long nakedness. All the hair on him was white as snow, and his whole appearance was radiant, exalted, and awesome. Seeing Paphnutius, he addressed him by name and then told him the story of his life in the desert. His guardian angel had appeared to him and led him to that place in the desert. For a long time he had fed only on herbs, which were rarely found in the desert, and after that, when he had endured a fierce struggle with demonic temptations and his heart had become fully strengthened in the love of God, an angel of God brought him bread for nourishment. And besides this, by the gracious Providence of God, a palm tree grew beside his cell which bore good dates, and a spring of living water opened up. "But most of all," said Onuphrius, "I am nourished and sweetly refreshed by the words of God." When Paphnutius asked him how he received communion, the desert-dweller replied that an angel of God brought him communion every Saturday and communed him. The next day the elder told Paphnutius that this was the day of his departure from this world; he knelt, prayed to God, and gave up his spirit to God. Then Paphnutius saw a heavenly light illuminate the body of the reposed saint and heard the singing of the angelic hosts. Having honorably buried the body of Onuphrius, Paphnutius returned to his monastery, to tell others as a living witness, for their profit, the wondrous life of the man of God and the greatness of God's providence for those who give themselves wholly to the service of God. Onuphrius departed this life in the year 400.

From the Hymn of Praise

Holy Peter in the dreadful desert,Poor in every earthly goodBut rich in the wiles of the devil,Conquered all with tearful prayers.