SAINT MODESTOS, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM 9405Home » Shop » Icons » Alpha » M - N » SAINT MODESTOS, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM 9405

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Saint Modestus, Archbishop of Jerusalem, was born into a Christian family in Cappadocian Sebasteia (Asia Minor). From his youth he felt a strong attraction towards strict monastic life. Saint Modestus accepted monastic tonsure. Afterwards, he became head of the monastery of Saint Theodosius the Great in Palestine. At this time (the year 614), military forces of the Persian ruler Chosroes fell upon Syria and Palestine, killing ninety thousand Christians and destroying Christian churches. Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem and a multitude of Christians were taken into captivity, along with the Cross of the Lord. Saint Modestus was entrusted to govern the Jerusalem Church temporarily as locum tenens of the patriarchal cathedra.

With the help of Patriarch John the Merciful of Alexandria (November 12), Saint Modestus set about restoring devastated Christian shrines, among which was the Sepulchre of the Lord. He reverently buried the murdered monks from the monastery of Saint Savva the Sanctified.

After fourteen years, Patriarch Zacharias returned from captivity with the Cross of the Lord, and after his death Saint Modestus became Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint Modestus died at age 97 in the year 634.

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Patron Saint of Animals

St. Modestos was the patriarch of Jerusalem in the 7th century. When the oxen belonging to a poor widow became ill, she asked the holy unmercenaries, Saints Cosmas and Damian, to heal them. They appeared to her in a dream and told her that it wasn’t given to them to heal animals, but that she should seek help from Bishop Modestos of Jerusalem.

While she was seeking Bishop Modestos, she encountered him in a dream. He told her to have a cross made from a portion of iron taken from her tools. The next day, he told her, when the Divine Liturgy was being served, she must dip the cross in oil and anoint her oxen in the name of Christ. She followed the saint’s instructions, and her oxen were healed.

It is for this reason that St. Modestos is considered the patron saint of animals. When our animals are sick or in danger, we can ask St. Modestos to intercede for us and for them.

Feast Day: 18th December