St. Julian Sabas, Hermit

ST. JULIAN, for his wisdom and prudence, was surnamed Sabas, which signifies in Syriac, the Grey or Old Man. He flourished in the fourth age, living first in a damp cave near Edessa, afterwards on Mount Sinai in Arabia. Austere penance, manual labour, and assiduous prayer and contemplation were the means by which he sanctified his soul. He saw in spirit the death of Julian the Apostate in Persia, by which God delivered his Church from the storm with which that persecutor then threatened it. 1 The Arians under Valens abusing the authority of this saint’s name, he left his solitude, and coming to Antioch loudly confounded them, and wrought many miracles. When he had given an ample testimony to the true faith, he returned to his cell, where he instructed a great number of disciples, who edified the Church long after his death. St. Chrysostom calls him a wonderful man, and describes the great honour with which he was received living, and his name venerated after his death. 2 See Theodoret, Hist. Relig. c. 2. Bulteau, Hist. Mon. d’Orient. t. 2. Fleury, l. 16, n. 28, &c. This saint is named in the Roman Martyrology on the 14th of January, but by the Greeks both on this day and on the 24th of this month.

Note 1. Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. l. 3, c. 24, and Philoth. c. 2. [back]

Note 2. St. Chrys. Hom. 21, in Ephes. t. 11, p. 162, ed. Ben. [back]

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