Saint Pishoy, the Star of the Desert and the Beloved of our Good Savior, departed on the 8th of Epip (15th of July). He was born in a town called Shansa in Egypt, and he had six brothers. His mother saw an angel in a vision saying to her: "The Lord says to you, give Me one of your children to serve Me." She answered saying: "Lord, take whoever you want." The angel took the hand of Pishoy, who was thin and frail. His mother told the angel, "My lord, take one who is strong to serve the Lord." "This is whom the Lord has chosen," answered the Angel. When he grew up , Saint Pishoy went to the wilderness of Scetes and became a monk by the hand of Saint Pemwah (Pamouyah), who also ordained Saint John the Short a monk. Saint Pishoy struggled in much asceticism and many worships that made him worthy to see the Lord Christ. Emperor Constantine appeared to Saint Pishoy in a vision, saying, "Had I known how great is the honor of monks, I would have abandoned my kingdom and became a monk." Saint Pishoy told him: "You have banished the heathen worship and exalted Christianity, and has not Christ given you anything?" Emperor Constantine answered him, "The Lord has given me many gifts, but none of them is like the honor of the monks." During his days, an ascetic old man appeared in the mountain of Ansena, who was reputed for his righteousness and to whom many people gathered. But he deviated from the true faith and the devil lead him astray. He taught that there is no Holy Spirit, and many were deceived by his sayings. Saint Pishoy went to him and had with him a weaved basket with three ears. When he visited the old man and his followers, they asked him about the reason for making three ears for the basket. He answered: "I have a Trinity, and everything I do is like the Trinity." They said to him, "Then, Is there a thing called the Holy Spirit?" Saint Pishoy started to explain to them from the Holy Scriptures, from the Old and New Testaments. He indicated to them that the Holy Spirit is One of the three Hypostases of the Trinity. He convinced them, and they returned to the true faith. Then Saint Pishoy returned to his monastery in the wilderness of Scetes. When the barbarians invaded the wilderness, he left it and dwelt on Mount Ansena, where he departed. After the time of persecution had ended, they brought his body with that of Saint Paul of Tamouh to his monastery in the wilderness of Scetes. May the prayers of Saint Pishoy be with us. Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 22:02:30 +0000
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