Venerable Anninus the Presbyter

The Venerable Anninus the Presbyter was born in Chalcedon into a Christian family. After the death of his parents Anninus, at fifteen, left home, settled in a monastery and was tonsured a monk. For complete solitude he went into the desert, to where the Euphrates divides Syria from Persia. In the desert Anninus met the monk Maiumus. Both ascetics led a very strict life. Throughout Great Lent they ate nothing.

Every day Saint Anninus brought drinking water from far away. Once he came back with a full vessel ahead of time, because an angel had miraculously filled his jugs for him. The monk Maiumus understood that his disciple had attained spiritual perfection and asked him to become his teacher. Out of humility Anninus refused. After this the monk Maiumus returned to the monastery, while Anninus stayed in the desert.

For his unceasing prayer and constant labour Anninus was rewarded by the Lord with the gift of healing and of foresight. Two lions served him and followed him everywhere. The fame of Anninus’s miracles spread far and wide. The sick and those possessed by evil spirits came to him. Several Christians stayed in the desert and became the saint’s disciples. Once people worn out by thirst came to Anninus and asked for water. Entrusting himself to the will of God, Anninus sent one of his disciples to a dried-up well. The well miraculously filled to the brim, and it was enough for Anninus and his disciples for several days. When the well was empty, Anninus did not dare to ask the Lord for a miracle again, and began carrying water from the Euphrates by night. Patrick, Bishop of Neocaesarea, often visited the venerable father and ordained him presbyter. When he learned of Anninus’s labour, he twice gave him donkeys to carry water, but the venerable father gave them away to the poor. Then the bishop ordered a large well to be dug and filled with water from time to time.

By a divine revelation Saint Anninus learned that a certain stylite who laboured far away wanted to come down from his pillar and denounce in court a robber who had maimed him with a stone. The venerable father wrote the stylite a letter and advised him to give up his intention.

Once a pious woman fell ill and set out to ask the Venerable Anninus for help. On the way a robber met her and, finding no money on her, decided to violate her. The woman called on Saint Anninus as her intercessor: “Saint Anninus, help me!” The robber was seized with terror and drew back. The woman told the venerable father everything and received healing. The repentant robber also came to Saint Anninus, was baptised and was tonsured a monk.

At the age of 110 Saint Anninus foretold his death and chose an abbot to succeed him.

Before his death the saint conversed with Moses and Aaron, who appeared to him in a vision, and then reposed with the words: “Lord, receive my spirit.”