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Of these, Saint Isaacius is celebrated also on May 30. He became a monk at an
early age and was a worker of every virtue; a zealot for the Orthodox
Faith, he was also deemed worthy of the gift of prophecy. The Saint
dwelt in a small hut near Constantinople. When Valens the Arian marched
against the Goths, who were at the Danube River, this righteous one
went out himself to meet the Emperor and, taking in hand the reins
of the Emperor's horse, said to him with boldness that God had incited
the barbarians to come against him, since he himself had incited many
to speak against God in blasphemy, and had driven God's true worshippers
out of the divine houses of prayer. Furthermore, he told him, if he
ceased fighting against God by means of heresy and returned the good
shepherds (that is, the Orthodox bishops) to the flock of Christ, he
would easily gain the victory over his enemies. However, if he did not desist from these things, nor have God as his ally, at the very outset
of the battle both he and his army would certainly be destroyed. "Learn from experience," he said, "that it is hard to kick against the pricks. Thou shalt not return, and this expedition
will be destroyed." But the Emperor became angry and had the righteous one locked in prison that
he might punish him and put him to death on his return after he conquered
the barbarians. But he was utterly defeated and was burned alive in
a certain village in the year 378 (Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Eccl. Hist.,
ch. 4: 31-32). When his surviving soldiers returned from the war, wishing
to tempt the Saint, they came to him and said, "Prepare to make thy defense before the Emperor, who is coming to fulfil what
he spoke against thee." But the Saint answered, "It has already been seven days that I smelled the stink of his bones, which were
burned in the fire." Thus the righteous one was released from prison. All marveled because of his
prophecy, and he became even more wondrous by means of the zeal he
displayed in behalf of Orthodoxy in 381, when the Second Ecumenical
Council was convoked. After this, a monastery was built in Constantinople
for him, and he piously shepherded those struggling with him in asceticism.
Having served as an example of the monastic life for them, he reposed
in peace about the end of the fourth century, leaving Dalmatus as his
successor. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone: Kontakion in the
Second Tone: Source: http://www.goarch.org Read lives of other Saints - https://www.truechristianity.info/en/saints_en.php
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