Thomas the Fool of Syria

Holy Venerable Thomas the Fool of Syria, a fool for Christ, was a monk in a monastery in Caesarea of Cappadocia, in Asia Minor. His obedience was to collect alms for the needs of the monastery. When he came to the city of Antioch of Syria, he took on the guise of foolishness.

Anastasius, the steward of a church, annoyed by the venerable one's requests, struck him on the cheek. Those present rebuked Anastasius for his rough treatment of the fool, but Thomas calmed them, saying that from now on neither would he accept anything from Anastasius, nor could Anastasius give him anything. The words proved prophetic: the next day Anastasius died, and the venerable one departed to the Lord on the road to his monastery, in the church of Saint Euphemia in the suburb of Daphne. He was buried where travellers were buried.

After a time a woman stranger was buried above his grave. After four hours the earth cast out her coffin. They buried her there again, but in the morning the coffin was again on top of the ground. Then they buried her in another place. The same happened with another woman. Then all understood that Venerable Thomas did not wish a woman to be buried above him. Word was sent to the patriarch of Antioch, Domnus (546-560), by whose order the relics of the venerable one were moved to Antioch and placed in the tomb in which rested the relics of many holy martyrs. Over these relics, which gave many healings, a small church was built.

Through the prayers of Venerable Thomas the plague ceased in Antioch. From then on the inhabitants began to honour his memory every year. The venerable one is commemorated on 7 May.