Venerable David of Thessalonica

St. David of Thessalonica practiced asceticism at the monastery of the holy Martyrs Theodore and Mercurius near Thessalonica. Inspired by the stylite saints, he made his dwelling in an almond tree beside the church and spent three years there in prayer and fasting, enduring heat and cold, until an angel commanded him to come down and build a cell on the ground. Having attained dispassion, he received from God the gift of wonderworking and healed many of the sick; he was even able to hold burning coals with incense in his bare hands while censing Emperor Justinian I and the entire Senate, suffering no harm. Using this spiritual authority, David interceded with Justinian on behalf of Archbishop Aristides of Thessalonica, securing the continued privileges of the city. He died peacefully around 540 while returning to his monastery.