- Our Holy Father Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus (4th c.)
- He was an illiterate fisherman, but always listened carefully to the
readings of Holy Scripture in church, and strove to put their teaching
into practice. Whatever he earned from his trade he gave to the poor,
keeping back nothing for himself. His charity became so well-known that
Philetus, Bishop of Melitopolis, ordained him to the priesthood,
charging him to travel throughout the diocese visiting Christians.
Parthenius fulfilled his mission admirably, and his many miracles and
healings — even raising the dead to life — showed that divine favor
rested on him. Ascalus, Metropolitan of Cyzicus, made him Bishop of
Lampsacus, at that time an almost completely pagan city. By virtue of
his preaching, prayer and fasting, St Parthenius in time converted the
whole city to Christ.
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Miracles of healing poured forth from the holy bishop so reliably (according to the Synaxarion)
the city's doctors became superfluous. Demons took flight at the
Saint's approach. Once, when he commanded a demon to depart from a poor
man, the spirit begged him, 'Give me a place to live, even swine!'
'No,' the bishop replied, 'But you may come and dwell in me!' The demon
fled, crying as though burned, 'How can I enter God's house? Great is
the power of the Christians!'
-
Once Parthenius visited Heraclea in Thrace, whose Bishop Hypatian was
extremely ill. The Saint revealed to the bishop that avarice was the
true cause of his ailment. 'Give to the poor the goods that you are
withholding from them, and you will recover.' The Metropolitan had
himself carried to the church on a stretcher and publicly gave all his
possessions to the poor. Three days later he was completely cured. On
leaving the city, Parthenius told the Metropolitan that his own death
was near and, soon after returning to Lampsacus, reposed in peace.
source: http://www.abbamoses.com
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