Featured Saint

St Arsenius the Great

The Teacher of the Kings

Claim to fame: Arsenius was born into a pious Christian family, which provided him with a rich education and upbringing. He studied rhetoric and philosophy and mastered the Latin and Greek languages. Saint Arsenius gave up philosophy and the vanity of worldly life, seeking instead true wisdom and immersed himself in the teachings of the scriptures. He was ordained deacon then an archdeacon by Saint Damasus the Bishop of Rome. Emperor Theodosius entrusted the education of his children to Arsenius, whereby he endeavoured to devote himself to the education of the youths. However, he yearned for the quietude of a monastic life; the Lord heard his prayer and Arsenius heard a voice saying, “Arsenius, flee from men, and you shall be saved”. He secretly fled to Sketis, a monastery in the midst of the desert, but shortly after Saint Arsenius settled in a solitary cell deep in the desert. When Abba Moses asked him why he hid himself from people, Saint Arsenius replied, “God knows that I love you, but I cannot remain with God and with men at the same time. The Heavenly powers all have one will and praise God together. On earth, however, there are many human wills, and each man has his own thoughts. I cannot leave God in order to live with people.”