Venerable Paul the Physician

Life

A Corinthian by birth. After his schooling he withdrew to a monastery and became a monk. He had a great battle with the impure spirit of fornication. When by the power of the Cross he drove it from himself, the spirit arranged malice against him by inducing a certain dissolute woman to say that she had borne a child by Paul. Then the heretics dragged him out of the monastery, put the child in his hands, and drove him through the city for the people to revile him. The child was only a few days old. Saint Paul prayed fervently to God and said to the people: "Behold, let the child itself say who its father is!" And the child stretched out its hand from the swaddling clothes, pointed to a certain blacksmith, and said: "This is my father, and not Paul the monk!" The opponents of Paul were put to shame, and God gave Paul great healing power, so that when he laid his hands upon the sick, they were healed. In old age he peacefully reposed, having pleased God with his life on earth. He lived in the eighth century.