died c. 390
A hermit near Antioch granted the gift of wonderworking.
Our Venerable Father Palladius the Hermit of Antioch, the Wonderworker
Palladius the Hermit, also known as Palladius the Desert Dweller, was a fourth-century monk and anchorite who lived an ascetic life in a mountain cave in the desert near Syrian Antioch, in the territory of the Roman Empire that lies within modern-day Turkey.
Because of his ascetic struggles, he is said to have received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking, the quality for which he is principally remembered.
He died in the late fourth century, with sources giving the year as approximately 390. He is commemorated on January 28.
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile,
and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance.
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe!
O our holy father Palladius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Palladius withdrew to a mountain cave in the desert near Syrian Antioch, where he led a solitary ascetic life as a hermit and anchorite.
Sources record that through his struggles he received the gift of wonderworking, though they preserve little further biographical detail about his origins or the course of his life; his birth year is unknown.
Historically Documented: The synaxarion and the principal sources preserve no documented account of his life beyond his ascetic reputation; surviving detail is limited.
Traditional Accounts: The best-known story associated with Palladius concerns a merchant found murdered by robbers near the saint's cave. Local residents suspected Palladius of the killing. According to the tradition, through the saint's prayers the dead merchant rose up and named his actual murderers, clearing Palladius of the accusation.
The sources relate that Palladius left behind several edifying written works, but none of the consulted sources names a specific title.
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