Brief biography of the saint
Stylian is the patron saint of newborn babies. Many will be interested in learning about the details of the life of this amazing person.
Origin
The exact date of the birth of St. Stylian has not been preserved to this day; it is only known that this event occurred around 550 after the Nativity of Christ. His name comes from the verb “stylono”, which translated from ancient Greek means “to support” or “strengthen”. The saint was born in Andrianapol, a city located in the southwestern part of Paphlagonia. His family lived poorly and modestly. The monk was blessed from his mother’s womb, therefore, while still a child, he began to strive for a holy life.
In his youth, Stylian of Paphlagon decided to join the hermits wandering the deserts in order to cleanse his soul through prayers and vigils. He distributed all the property that he owned at the time of his majority to the poor and needy people.
Life and service to God
After Stylian the Venerable was completely freed from his father’s inheritance, he discovered for himself the path to true life. With this thought, he took monastic vows in one of the monasteries in Asia Minor, where he led a harsh ascetic life in purity and obedience, without any of the usual worldly blessings. Having completely subordinated his will to the elder mentor, he managed to overcome all demonic and carnal temptations.
After some time, in his quest for perfection, Stylian said goodbye to his brother monks and left the monastery. Traveling around the world, he found a deserted desert and settled in a cave. However, unlike most hermits, Saint Stylian decided not to completely withdraw from worldly society. Periodically, he went to the people and did good deeds, each time returning to his small cave to rest and read prayers.
Days and nights he prayed to the Lord and sincerely praised him. So he spent many years of asceticism, and one day God revealed him to people as a “lamp of light.” They quickly learned about the holy hermit in all corners of the earth and began to visit his cave. Coming to the Monk Stylian, those who were crying found consolation, those who were sick found healing, and those who despaired found faith and encouragement. Yesterday's sinners, entering the saint's cave, began to repent. Both old people and young people came to Stylian from all over the area - in a word, everyone who needed Divine support. Even in the most hopeless situations, the Monk Stylian provided help to those in need.
First of all, the saint devoted himself to children who suffered from physical ailments and also needed highly spiritual food. Many families from all walks of life willingly entrusted the upbringing of their children to the Monk Stylian. Since there were too many people willing, he needed the help of other hermits, with whom he had long established friendly relations. He also needed a more spacious and capacious room, since the cave in which he lived turned out to be too small.
So, Stylian, who had a cheerful and good-natured disposition, created something like the world's first kindergarten. Without any fears or apprehensions, parents could send their children there to be raised.
Soon this saint became the patron saint of babies about to be born. There is a legend that one young woman who helped Stylian with raising children, for a long time of married life, could not conceive her own child. The monk healed her of infertility. And after the birth of the baby, the happy husband of this woman notified the entire neighborhood about the holy wonderworker. After that, other married couples who had problems conceiving began to come to him.
After Stylian’s prayers, several children were born in families - beautiful, healthy and happy. Sick children were brought to the saint from all nearby settlements. He simply took such a baby into his arms and began to pray to the Lord. After this, all the ailments went away, and the child regained vitality and joy.
Death
Stylian lived a long pious life and reposed before the Lord God in old age.
Why do they turn to the saint?
Historians have not preserved the exact date of birth of the future protector and patron of children.
- From childhood, the boy was distinguished by his special reverence for the Word of God and strictly monitored the purity of not only his body, but also his soul. As a boy, a youth, a young man, he often came under attacks from Satan, who wanted to trap the young soul in the network of his passions.
- The greatest desire of Stylian, who had reached adulthood, was to purify his soul, body and perceive God’s world like a child in order to know true life. By distributing all his rich inheritance to the poor, he confirmed the absence of the passion of love of money in his soul.
- After taking monastic vows, the monk began to lead an ascetic life, and over time he asked for his mentor’s blessing for a solitary life in the desert. He based his beliefs on the words from the New Testament, with which Jesus calls the disciples to be like children.
- The hermit spent days and nights in the knowledge of the Word of God in order to suppress his own thoughts in the fullness of his existence and do the will of the Almighty. Living in a cave, Stylian glorified the Creator, observing His creations, the moon, stars, sun, animal behavior and the rebirth of nature.
Father St. Stylian of Paphlagon
By the will of God, the fame of the miracle-working hermit quickly spread beyond his native land, and pilgrims flocked to the saint for help.
The Almighty Creator saw the desire of the heart of a monk living in the desert to have faith similar to a child’s, and blessed him with the gift of healing the bodies and souls of children. Despite the fact that the cave of the Child Protector was located far in the desert, mothers with sick children made a difficult journey to return healthy.
Saint Stylian never ascribed to himself the glory of the Lord. He brought each child in his arms before God, raising the baby to the Almighty, in humility, with tears in his eyes, begging the Creator to show His mercy and grant healing.
The great faith of the hermit returned with health and restoration to the sick body of the child. Often, in front of Stylian’s cave, barren women knelt, praised the Lord and waited for the monk’s prayer, after which many gave birth to more than one child.
Iconography
There are several icons in the world depicting St. Stylian, and they all have similar plots. The most famous and popular is the Greek icon, which is widespread not only in Greece itself, but also on the island of Cyprus. It depicts a gray-haired and gray-bearded old man with a kind look, who holds a swaddled sleeping baby in his arms. There is a halo on the saint's head.
There are also icons in which a holy man holds a baby looking into his eyes.
On some miraculous icons, St. Stylian holds three or nine babies. The icon of St. Stylian of Paphlagon is kept in Moscow, in the Conception Stauropegic Convent. In addition, paintings with his holy face are in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kosino, as well as in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra near Moscow. An ancient icon capable of healing children is located in the village of Dedovichi, Pskov region, in the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
What do they ask the saint for?
Believers turn to Stylian with requests concerning children, since he is their main patron and intercessor. Due to the fact that during his life Stylian was a monk-educator, the holy church called him “intercessor of children.” This miracle worker is able to heal children from all kinds of ailments, as well as protect them from any misfortunes and patronize them on the path of life. Believing parishioners often ask the saint:
- heal a child from the most serious and dangerous diseases;
- protect and fully support children, especially those who are orphaned early;
- give a blessing for the conception of healthy, strong and happy children in marriage;
- get rid of infertility;
- endow with good health and willpower the baby who is about to be born.
Prayer before the icon of the Saint
Today, the icon of a “man with a baby in his arms” is revered and important as well as images of other saints. It is copied from the image of a saint who lived in Asia Minor between 400 and 500 years. During his lifetime, women came to Stylian with requests to pray for the granting of long-awaited children to them. Mothers came with their children so that the saint would give them blessing and healing. Mothers from near and far villages came to the saint’s cave with their sick children, asking him for prayer. Stylian received them all, holding their babies in his arms and praying to God for their healing with holy tears in his eyes. The Lord always answered his prayers and bestowed blessings on mothers and their children. That is why, to this day, the icon of Stylian of Paphlagon is an image of the patron saint of children, to whom people pray for the safe birth and good upbringing of children.
It is no coincidence that the holy hermit, as many call him to this day, became a benefactor of children. After all, Stylian deeply accepted the words spoken by the Savior: “... unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The saint sincerely and strongly tried to preserve and carry with him the pure faith of the children. Seeing his desire, the Lord gave him the opportunity to patronize children, which the icon clearly shows us. The elder gave hope to many Christian believers.
Many who came to him barren, after the blessing of the saint, gave birth to healthy and wonderful children. At the same time, numerous parishioners who had already lost hope of having children, even after the death of the saint, called on his name. They brought a vowed icon to the temple and became successful and happy parents for their long-awaited children. Pregnant women, in turn, pray before the icon for the birth of healthy babies.
In Moscow, the icon of Stylian of Paphlagon is placed in the Conception Monastery
The celebration of the memory of St. Stylian, the patron and healer of children, takes place on November 26, old style, or December 9, in the new style.
Prayer text
In front of the icon of the holy hermit Stylian, they pray for the same thing that they prayed for many centuries ago during his life. Women ask to give them babies with good health. Mothers pray for the healing of their children from illnesses. In each case, the miracle worker helps sincere believers.
After saying a prayer to the venerable hermit Stylian of Paphlagon, women who had previously suffered from prolonged infertility were able to give life to a large number of cheerful and healthy babies. This prayer gives hope and faith to even the most desperate women.
Its text is as follows:
“O sacred head, Rev. Father Stylian! Having fought a good fight on earth, in heaven you received the crown of righteousness from Christ our God. In the same way, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. Honoring your great boldness before the Lord, we humbly pray to you, reverend father: look with the merciful eye of your love on us, your unworthy servants, and strive through your God-pleasing intercession to ask the King of kings and the Lord of lords, so that He may add His great and rich mercies to May he give us, sinners, the spirit of the right faith, the spirit of love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, may he deliver us from all troubles and misfortunes, may he send down everything useful for the salvation of our souls. To her, Holiness of God, do not disgrace our hope, which we place in you according to God and the Mother of God, but be our helper and protector for salvation, so that we may be worthy to end our life in repentance and receive eternal goodness in the Kingdom of Christ our God, and glorify the love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your holy intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
In addition, there is Kontakion and Troparion, written in honor of the patron of the children of Stylian.
Kontakion:
“You were sanctified from the womb, like the Divine Samuel, you who bore God, ascetics glorified Christ God. In the same way, you appeared to be a treasure trove of healings and a divine representative of youths and infants, for Christ brightly glorifies you, whom you glorified from your youth, Stylians.”
Troparion:
“A pillar of inspired abstinence, an unshakable pillar of the Church, Stylians, you have become blessed. You have trusted the Lord from your youth, you have appeared as the abode of the Spirit, Reverend Father, pray to Christ God to grant us great mercy.”
Life of St. Stylian of Paphlagonia
St. Stylian of Paphlagon
Until recently, few people knew Stylian of Paphlagon here in Russia. But in Greece and Orthodox Cyprus this is one of the most beloved saints, many churches were built in his honor, long-awaited sons are named after him. Stylian in translation means pillar, support
- from the Greek verb
“ stylono
”, i.e.
“strengthen”, “support
”.
He is a support for children, and for all of us. In our prayers to him we sing: “an unshakable pillar of the Church .”
This saint is called in Greece
the Friend of Children
, and sometimes
the children's saint
.
Where and when was he born
Saint Stylian was born in Asia Minor, in its northern part - in Paphlagonia ,
on the shores of the Black Sea in the blessed 5th century, when there was no longer persecution of Christians. Stylian lived in an Orthodox state, where children were taught the Christian faith, so from early childhood he strove to live according to the holy Commandments and loved Christ.
Useful materials
The family was wealthy, Stylian could have received further education and made an excellent career - Byzantium was rapidly developing, trading, building, young educated people were very much needed in the public service. But Stylian had a different aspiration, his soul was looking for a holy life with God.
Choosing monasticism
St. Stylian of Paphlagon
As a teenager, he often went outside the city, where lonely desert monks lived in caves, and learned from them unceasing prayer. When Stylian came of age, he distributed all his inherited property to the poor, exclaiming:
“I threw off the heavy anchor that kept me tied to the desires of my fallen body . From now on the path true life to me .”
After this, he took monastic vows, cut off his will, lived in complete obedience with an elder in one of the monasteries, learned to pray and fight demonic temptations. He lived in strict fasting, but always smiled according to the words of the apostle:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
Hermitage
Wanting to express more love to God and be closer to Him, he left the monastery and moved to a cave in the middle of the desert, where, being in complete solitude, contemplating God’s creation - the sky, stars, birds and animals, he constantly glorified the Creator. His soul reached peace, he was complacent and open to all living things. The secret of achieving God's grace was revealed to him - according to the Gospel word of the Savior:
“ The truth of this tell you, unless you are converted and become like children , you will not enter the Kingdom Heaven ”
(Matthew 18:1-4).
Stylian gained the Kingdom of Heaven into his soul.
A special gift of patronage for children
Stylian of Paphlagon School or art. center: Southern Russia End of the 18th century. (?) Wood, oil, created gold. 45 × 33 cm Private collection
God was pleased to reveal the blessed hermit to the world. His godly, holy life became known in the area. Coming to him for advice, people met with the Angel; the saint radiated so much goodness and love. He consoled those who were crying, prayed for the offended, and instructed everyone in faith and repentance. The Lord gave him the gift of healing for his holy life.
With faith and hope, mothers came to his cave, bringing seriously ill children. When Stylian took the sick child into his arms, the child suddenly opened his eyes and began to smile, looking at the old man, and he looked at him with love and a quiet smile.
Interesting fact
According to legend preserved in the Greek Church, the Monk Stylian was always cheerful, a kind smile never left his face.
It happened that Stylian had to pray more than one night with tears for a sick child brought to him for healing, and all this time the parents knelt at the entrance to the cave so as not to interfere with the saint’s prayer.
The Lord did not refuse Stylian, who had acquired angelic humility, his prayers, giving him special grace to pray for children - angelic souls –
“You appeared to be a treasure trove and divine representative of youths and infants” .
When the parents found a healthy child, they left Stylian with tears of gratitude and a firm intention to change their lives, correct it, and turn to repentance.
The saint spent many years in the desert, but his cave was no longer the refuge of a lonely hermit. Mothers brought their children to him, as if to a manger, fathers brought their youths for spiritual instruction. After conversations with him and confession of sins, leaving Stylian with a blessing, childless couples conceived healthy children.
And the Lord rejoiced in heaven, looking at the gray-haired old man, surrounded by laughing kids, sprinkling flowers on his head, pulling at his mustache, jumping on one leg over his staff.
Demise
Stylian was always cheerful and good-natured, he lived a long life and joyfully gave it all to God. When he died at a ripe old age, even in the coffin his face continued to light up with a smile.
“ Having fought the good fight on earth, you have received the crown of righteousness from Christ our God Heaven .”
Praise
Even after the saint’s dormition, women came to the cave where he labored with a prayer for the gift of a child, and miracles were performed. Saint Stylian from heaven asked the Lord for consolation for women praying for childbearing. Repeatedly, through his prayers, barren women became mothers, and not just mothers, but mothers of many children.
The fame of miracles through prayers to Saint Stylian spread far beyond the boundaries of the Paphlagonian region; he was glorified by the Greek Church and became known in other Orthodox countries.
Day of Remembrance
Saint Stylian's feast day is celebrated on December 9th.
Iconography: saint with child
Stylian of Paphlagon with baby Greek icon
On icons the saint is always depicted smiling, with a swaddled baby in his arms, and sometimes with many babies. In his hand, Saint Stylian holds a scroll on which is written in Greek - “ Children are a gift of God . ”
They pray to the saint for the gift and healing of children
They pray to Saint Stylian, the intercessor of children:
- about children's health;
- about healing from various diseases;
- about the chastity of children, about the Lord preserving them from the bad influences of the modern world;
- about childbearing;
- about getting rid of infertility;
— Pregnant women pray for the birth of healthy children.
There are no boundaries for saints
Prayer to Saint Stylian and reading the akathist work wonders. He quickly responds to a sincere appeal, asking from the Lord, the Giver of all good things, what we ask for. Neither state borders, nor distances, nor language or dialect can hinder prayer. But it is interesting that when in old, pre-revolutionary Russia the norm was 8-10 children in a family, Stilian was not in Russia, but now, when children are stimulated with maternal capital and mortgages, he has come to us.
Truly children are a gift from God!
Author: Irina Nechaeva.
