Agapius of Vatopedi

Saint Agapius of Vatopedi (the Athonite) was a novice of an elder hesychast in the former Vatopedi skete of Kalitsa on the Holy Mountain. He is commemorated on 20 May, in the synaxis of the venerable fathers of the Russian monastery of Saint Panteleimon on Athos, and on 4 July in the synaxis of the saints of Athos.

Turks who had landed on the shore of Athos seized him and carried him into captivity at Magnesia, where he worked in chains for twelve years. He did not lose hope of release and prayed warmly to the Mother of God. One day the heavenly Protectress showed her mercy to the patient sufferer: in a dream she commanded him to go "without fear to his elder". It turned out that he had been freed of his chains in waking life as well. Saint Agapius left his master unhindered and returned to the Holy Mountain. But his strict elder, testing the humility of the novice who had been granted so wonderful a deliverance, and wishing to strengthen his faith still more in the almighty providence of God, made him go back and serve the Turk until God Himself should move the master to release him. Agapius returned to captivity without a murmur. Amazed at the Christian's humility and his great faith, the master not only gladly let him go, but himself went with two sons to the Holy Mountain, was baptized, received the monastic habit and struggled until his death.