Venerable Euthymius the Great

Venerable Euthymius the Great was born in 377 in the city of Melitene (Armenia) to devout parents who had long been childless and prayed for a son. Ordained a priest, he was appointed overseer of the monasteries of the Melitene diocese. In 406 he withdrew to Palestine, settling in the desert near the Pharan Lavra and later at Coutila, where together with St. Theoctistus he founded a cenobitic monastery (the Khuziba Lavra). He became renowned for the strictness of his ascetic life, for miracle-working, and for converting neighboring Bedouins to Christ, including an entire Arab tribe led by their chief Aspebet. He had a decisive influence on the formation of Palestinian monasticism, becoming spiritual guide to the young Sabbas (the future St. Sabbas the Sanctified) and other great ascetics. He firmly defended Orthodox teaching against Monophysite heresy under Emperor Marcian. He reposed in 473 at the age of 96. He is venerated as one of the greatest fathers of Palestinian monasticism.