Poplius of Syria

Holy Venerable Poplius of Syria was an ascetic and founder of a monastery, and lived in the fourth century. A native of the city of Zeugma on the Euphrates, he belonged to a senatorial family.

He chose a place on a high mountain thirty versts from the city, where he built a small hut and then gave to the poor everything he had received from his parents; he remained to live in virtue and fasting, and his fame spread far. Many who wished to share his struggle began to come to him; he told them to make narrow cells and visited them very often, watching strictly that there should be nothing in them beyond the bare necessities. He weighed on a scale the bread he found with the monks and, if anyone had more than the measure, called him a glutton, too careful of his body; those in whose cells he found cooked food he called eaters of uncleanness. At night he did not seek rest but went around the cells of his disciples and stopped outside the door of each. If he found the occupant praying, he went away in silence; if he was asleep, he struck the door with his hand and sternly rebuked the lazy monk.

Through this constant companionship with his disciples many became like him in ascetic labour. Two of them, Theotecnus and Aphthonius, took care of the brotherhood and led the monastery after the venerable one went to the Lord. St Poplius completed his great labour in peace around the year 380. He is commemorated on 7 February, in the new style.