Cosmas of Pharan

Holy Venerable Cosmas of Pharan (Palestine), also called Cosmas of Antioch, the hermit, lived in the sixth century in the Pharan desert of Palestine and became known for strict asceticism and a deep knowledge of Holy Scripture. He reposed at Antioch, where the patriarch buried his body.

The account of the venerable Cosmas, written by the presbyter Basil of Vicania, is found in the Spiritual Meadow, composed by the Venerable John Moschus. Cosmas was a strict faster, an unshakable keeper of the Orthodox faith and the dogmas of the Church, and knew Holy Scripture and the writings of the Holy Fathers thoroughly. He had a special reverence for the writings of Saint Athanasius the Great and told the one he spoke with: "If you come upon a word of Saint Athanasius and have no paper, write it on your clothing". It was his custom to stand the whole night from Saturday to Sunday in prayer.

Coming once to Antioch, the venerable one reposed there. The patriarch buried his body in his monastery. Abba Basil relates that when he went to venerate the tomb of Saint Cosmas, he met there a beggar who said to him: "Great is the elder whom you buried here", and told him that he had lain paralysed for twelve years and had received healing through the prayers of Saint Cosmas.

Saint Cosmas is commemorated on 16 August, in the new style.