Sainted Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem
Commemorated on December 18
Sainted Modestos,
Archbishop of Jerusalem, was born into a Christian family in Cappadocian
Sebasteia (Asia Minor). From his youthful years he felt a strong attraction
towards strict monastic life. Saint Modestos accepted monastic tonsure.
Afterwards he became head of the monastery of Saint Theodosios the Great
(founded in the IV Century) in Palestine. At this time (the year 614), military
forces of the Persian emperor Chosroes fell upon Syria and Palestine, killing
90 thousand Christians and laying waste the Christian churches. The Jerusalem
Patriarch Zakharias and a multitude of Christians together with the Cross of
the Lord was taken into captivity. Saint Modestos was entrusted to temporarily
govern the Jerusalem Church in the capacity of locum tenens of the patriarchal
cathedra.
With the help of the
Alexandria Patriarch John the Merciful (Comm. 12 November), Saint Modestos
set about the restoring of devastated Christian holy places, among which was
the Sepulchre of the Lord. He reverently gave burial to the remained of
murdered monks from the monastery of Saint Sava the Sanctified. After 14 years,
Patriarch Zakharias returned from captivity with the Cross of the Lord, and
after his death Saint Modestos became Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint Modestos
died at age 97 in the year 634.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
