Varsanufie din Gaza

Cuviosul Varsanufie din Gaza (m. către 540 d.Hr.) a fost un monah duhovnicesc - avva - din secolul al VI-lea. I se mai spunea și „Marele Bătrân”. Prăznuirea lui în Biserica Ortodoxă se face la 6 februarie.

Viața

S-a născut în Egipt, he lived in absolute reclusion for fifty years, and then near the monastery of Saint Seridon of Gaza in Palestine. He wrote many letters, 800 of which have survived. He corresponded mainly with John the Prophet, abbot of the monastery of Merosala and teacher of Dorotei din Gaza. Alături de aceștia, este unul din „părinții filocalici”

At the old age he convinced the emperor to renew the concordant relationship with the Church of Jerusalem.

Moaște

Moaștele sale au fost aduse la Oria (în Italia) de un călugăr palestinian la anul 850 d.Hr. and placed in the present-day church of San Francesco da Paola by Bishop Theodosius. During a Moorish siege and taking of the city, the relics were lost but then later rediscovered and placed in the city's basilica.

At Oria he is considered to have saved the city from destruction wrought by foreign invaders. A legend states that he repelled a Spanish invasion by appearing before the Spanish commander armed with a sword. During World War II, he is said to have spread his blue cape across the sky, thus causing a rainstorm, and preventing an air bombing by Allied Forces.

Legături externe

• (ro) Varsanufie și Ioan; Scrisori duhovnicești (Filocalia 11)
• (ro) Sinaxar 6 februarie
• (it) San Barsanofio

Surse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barsanuphius_of_Palestine