Barsanuphius of Palestine
Encyclopedia
Barsanuphius of Palestine (died ca. 540 AD), also known as Barsanuphius of Gaza, was a hermit
of the sixth century. Born in Egypt
, he lived in absolute seclusion for fifty years, and then near the monastery of Saint Seridon of Gaza in Palestine
. He wrote many letters, 800 of which have survived. He corresponded mainly with John the Prophet
, abbot of the monastery of Merosala and teacher of Dorotheus of Gaza
.
At the old age he convinced the emperor to renew the concordant relationship with the Church of Jerusalem.
, in Italy
, with a Palestinian monk
in 850 AD and placed in the present-day church of San Francesco da Paola by Bishop Theodosius. During a Moorish siege
and taking of the city, the relics were lost but then later rediscovered and placed in the city's basilica.
At Oria he is considered to have saved the city from destruction wrought by foreign invaders. A legend states that he repelled a Spanish
invasion by appearing before the Spanish commander armed with a sword. During World War II
, he is said to have spread his blue cape across the sky, thus causing a rainstorm, and preventing an air bombing
by Allied Forces
.
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
of the sixth century. Born in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, he lived in absolute seclusion for fifty years, and then near the monastery of Saint Seridon of Gaza in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. He wrote many letters, 800 of which have survived. He corresponded mainly with John the Prophet
John the Prophet
John the Prophet, known also as Venerable John, practiced a life of silence and earned the gifts of prophecy and perspicacity, for which he received the designation of prophet. During 18 years, up to his death, he lived near the Barsanuphius...
, abbot of the monastery of Merosala and teacher of Dorotheus of Gaza
Dorotheus of Gaza
Dorotheus of Gaza or Abba Dorotheus was a Christian monk and abbot. He joined the monastery Abba Serid near Gaza through the influence of elders Barsanuphius and John. Around 540 he founded his own monastery nearby and became abbot there...
.
At the old age he convinced the emperor to renew the concordant relationship with the Church of Jerusalem.
Veneration
His relics arrived in OriaOria, Italy
Oria is a town and comune in the Apulia region, in the province of Brindisi, in southern Italy. It is the see city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oria.- History :...
, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, with a Palestinian monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
in 850 AD and placed in the present-day church of San Francesco da Paola by Bishop Theodosius. During a Moorish siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
and taking of the city, the relics were lost but then later rediscovered and placed in the city's basilica.
At Oria he is considered to have saved the city from destruction wrought by foreign invaders. A legend states that he repelled a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
invasion by appearing before the Spanish commander armed with a sword. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he is said to have spread his blue cape across the sky, thus causing a rainstorm, and preventing an air bombing
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
by Allied Forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
.