Bessarion

Venerable Bessarion was born in Egypt, in the city of Misiri, and lived at the end of the fourth century and the beginning of the fifth. He passed his life as a hermit in the Egyptian desert and reached a great age, falling asleep in peace.

From childhood he loved God greatly and kept undefiled the holy Baptism received in infancy. He went up to a deserted place and struggled as one without a body. He never owned a garment. For forty days and nights he stood unmoving among thorn bushes, like a pillar, to conquer sleep, with his hands and gaze toward heaven and his soul united with God. By the gift of God he worked miracles like the great prophets. The synaxaria tell that, walking with his disciple on the road, without water and burning with thirst, he made the sign of the Cross in the air and the salt water of the sea became sweet and cold; that, speaking for the benefit of many as evening came, he stopped the sun until he had finished his teaching, like Joshua; that he brought down rain from heaven, like Elijah; and that he crossed the Nile without getting wet, as Elisha crossed the Jordan, using the sign of the Cross in place of a mantle.

He is commemorated on 20 February, according to the new calendar.