Orthodox Icon of Saint Saba the Sanctified

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December 5th
Troparion (Tone 1)
Sanctified from youth, O righteous Saba, thou wast a summit of righteousness equal to the Angels. Thou didst lead a heavenly life, and guide thy flock to godliness by word and deed. And they cry to thee with faith: Glory to Him who hath strengthened thee; glory to Him who hath crowned thee; glory to Him who through thee worketh healings for all.

St. Saba was born of pious Christian parents, John and Sophia, in Cappadocia. John was a military commander. When St. Saba was five years old, his parents left him with an uncle to go away on military business. At the age of eight, he went to the nearby monastery and studied the Holy Scriptures. His parents returned and urged him to join the world again and plan to marry. St. Saba refused and was tonsured a monk at the age of seventeen. So pure was his asceticism and prayer, that the saint was given the gift of wonderworking. He spent ten years at the monastery before going to Jerusalem, then onto St. Euthymius the Great's monastery, then onto Abba Theoctistus. He lived there until he was thirty years old. After Theoctistus died, St. Saba went into the wilderness to live in a cave, only returning to the monastery on Saturdays for divine services and a meal with the other monks. After a time, he received permission to abandon his Saturday visits to the monastery and live as a hermit in the cave. He lived in the cave for five years. St. Euthymius watched over him carefully and decided to take him with to the Rouba wilderness. When St. Euthymius died, St. Saba withdrew to a cave near the monastery of St. Gerasimus of Jordan. Many gathered around him seeking the monastic life and a lavra was established. While St. Saba was walking one day, a pillar of fire appeared to him directing him to a large cave that became the lavra's church. St. Saba founded several other monasteries. Many miracles occurred through the prayers of St. Saba, including a spring coming forth from the ground at the lavra, abundant rain in the time of drought, and healing of the sick and the possessed. He is accredited with the composition of the Jerusalem Typikon. St. Saba reposed in the Lord in the year 532.

St. Saba the Sanctified is also known as St. Savas the Sanctified.

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas and is from the Carpenter family's private collection.

Order # inp-164