Pausicacus of Synada

Saint Pausicacus, Bishop of Synada in Phrygia, was a monk and ascetic from Apamea in Syria, gifted with the power of healing, who reposed in the year 606. His name in Greek means one who puts an end to evil. He is commemorated on 13 May by the old calendar, which is 26 May by the new.

Life

He was born in 526 at Apamea, a city in south-⁠western Syria on the river Orontes, into a noble and pious family. From childhood he began to lead an ascetic life, struggling in prayer, vigils and strict fasting. About the age of twenty-⁠five he became a monk. Living on little bread and water, he received from the Lord the gift of healing diseases of soul and body.

In time the news spread that he cast out demons from the possessed, gave sight to the blind, straightened the crippled and worked other miracles. The news reached Patriarch Cyriacus of Constantinople (595-606), who summoned him to the capital, ordained him bishop and appointed him to Synada in northern Phrygia.

Episcopate

Having become bishop, he began to drive out of his flock heretics, freethinkers and those who, in his view, lived in sin and persisted in dissolute habits. Famed throughout Phrygia for this care of his people, he travelled to Constantinople, where, according to his life, he healed the Emperor Maurice of an illness. As a reward the emperor sent to his diocese a gift of about seventy gold coins.

On his return to Synada, while in the town of Soloni, he caused a spring of water to flow from the ground by prayer, and he and his companions quenched their thirst. He died in peace in 606. The place of his burial and of his relics is unknown.