Hellius of Egypt

Holy Venerable Hellius of Egypt lived in the fourth century as an ascetic in the Egyptian desert. From childhood he was given to a monastery and raised in piety, abstinence and chastity.

Grown to manhood, he withdrew into the Egyptian desert, where by ceaseless struggle he reached high perfection in the spiritual life: he had the gift of foresight and knew all the thoughts and the state of soul of the monks who spoke with him. Great faith, simplicity of soul and deep humility allowed him to command wild animals. Once, carrying a heavy load to a desert monastery and being very tired, after praying he called a wild ass and laid his load on it; the ass obediently carried it to the place and was let go back into the desert.

Another time, when he had to cross a river and there was no boat, he called a crocodile out of the water, stood on its back and crossed safely to the other bank.

One of the young novices of the monastery that Hellius visited asked him to take him into the depths of the desert. The venerable warned him of the great labours, struggles and temptations that inevitably come upon all hermits, but, since the novice kept asking earnestly, he took him. On the very first night, terrified by dreadful visions, the novice ran trembling into the venerable's cave.

He comforted him, calmed him and led him back. Sealing the cave with the sign of the Cross, he told the young hermit not to be afraid, for the terrors would not return. Trusting the saint's word, the novice decided to remain in solitude and later reached such perfection that, like his teacher Hellius, he received food from an angel at the proper time.

In deep old age the venerable Hellius peacefully passed to the heavenly dwellings.

The Synaxarion commemorates him on 27 July (new style).