Dometius

The venerable brothers Maximus and Dometius are commemorated on 19 January (new style) in the Greek synaxarion. They were young men of imperial family, raised in abundance and honour, but with hearts bent toward monastic life.

They came to Abba Macarius in the desert of Nitria and asked him to take them as disciples. Looking at their well-⁠cared-⁠for appearance, Macarius thought they would not endure the harshness of the desert, but he did not send them away. He showed them a place to build a cell, gave them an axe and a bag of bread and salt, and taught them to weave baskets from palm leaves to earn their daily bread. For three years they struggled beyond human strength, keeping silence and going to church only to receive communion. When Macarius visited them, they received him in silence, and that night he saw the roof open and a light like day, and the two brothers praying with hands stretched toward heaven. The younger was guarded by an angel with a flaming sword, and at morning prayer, at each verse of the psalms, a flame went out of their mouths and reached heaven.

A few days later the elder brother fell asleep, and after three more days the younger. Macarius held the two young men up as an example of struggle and showed their place to the other monks. They are greatly venerated in the desert of Nitria. The monastery built at the place of their struggle is called today Baramous, that is, the Monastery of the Romans.