Venerable Hellius of Egypt

The Venerable Hellius was an Egyptian desert ascetic of the 4th century. Given to a monastery as a child, he was raised in abstinence, chastity and humility and, according to his Life, worked wonders even as a boy, carrying burning coals in his garment without scorching it.

As a grown man he withdrew into the desert, rejected the devil's temptations of honey and fruit during a long fast, and was fed by God. He had the gift of clairvoyance, knowing the thoughts of the monks who came to him, and wild animals obeyed him: once he called a wild ass to carry his heavy load to the brethren. When a monastery was left without the Sunday liturgy because the priest feared a man-eating crocodile in the river, Hellius crossed on the crocodile's back to fetch him; the frightened priest would not ride back with him, and after the return crossing the beast died at the saint's word. He also guided a young disciple through demonic terrors in the desert. He reposed in deep old age. His memory is kept on 14 July (27 July New Style).