Venerable Alexis, the Man of God (+411)

The Venerable Alexis, the Man of God (+411), was born in Rome into the family of Euphemian and Aglais, who feared God and loved the poor. For a long time Alexis’s parents had no child; at last God heard the entreaty of the couple faithful to Christ and looked upon them with the eye of mercy. A son was born to the devout family. Alexis was six years old when he was set to his studies. The boy was drawn above all to Holy Scripture.

When he grew up, like his parents he fasted strictly, helped the poor, and wore sackcloth under his rich clothing. Early on the desire awoke in him to leave the world and give himself to the service of God. His parents wanted Alexis to marry, and when he came of age they found him a bride.

After the betrothal, left alone with his bride, Alexis took the betrothal ring from his finger, gave it to his bride and said to her: “Keep it; may the Lord be with us and shelter our new life.” He himself secretly left the house and boarded a ship bound for Mesopotamia.

Alexis came to the city of Edessa, where the Saviour’s Image Not Made by Hands was kept; he sold everything he had, gave all his property to the poor, and settled by the church of the Most Holy Mother of God, where he began to beg. The Venerable Alexis ate only bread and water. He gave away the alms he received to the poor and the infirm, and every Sunday he received the Body and Blood of Christ.

His relatives searched for Alexis in vain. The servants sent by Euphemian came to Edessa, but did not recognise their master in the beggar sitting at the church gate: Alexis had grown thin from strict fasting, his good looks had faded, and his sight had weakened. The blessed father recognised them and gave thanks to the Lord that he had received alms from his own servants.

Saint Alexis’s mother shut herself away and prayed fervently for her son. His bride, too, mourned together with her mother-in-law.

The Venerable Alexis lived in Edessa for seventeen years. Once the Mother of God appeared to the sacristan of the church and told him: “Bring into my church the man of God, worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven; his prayer goeth up to God, and the Holy Spirit resteth upon him.” The sacristan began to look for him but could not find him. The troubled servant of God raised a prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God and asked her to show him the man of God. From the icon came the voice of the All-holy Virgin: the chosen one of God is the beggar who sits at the church gate. The sacristan sought out Saint Alexis and brought him into the church. The faithful who learned of this miracle glorified God. Afraid of the lure of earthly glory, the saint boarded a ship and set out for Cilicia, but by God’s providence a storm cast the ship onto the shore of distant Italy. The blessed father went to Rome, came to his father’s house and asked for shelter. Euphemian did not recognise his son; he ordered a dwelling to be made for Alexis by the entrance and food to be given him from his own table.

In his parents’ house Alexis went on praying and fasting, and bore with obedience the slights and mockery of his father’s servants. His room was opposite his bride’s windows, and the blessed father suffered to hear her weeping and lamenting. Only his boundless love for God helped the blessed one to bear this pain. Saint Alexis lived in his parents’ house for seventeen years. The Lord revealed to him the day of his death beforehand; the saint wrote down his life, and in a letter asked his parents and his bride for forgiveness.

On the day of Saint Alexis’s death Pope Innocent of Rome (402–417) was celebrating in the cathedral church. The Emperor Honorius (395–423) was also present at the service. During the service a voice rang out from the altar: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28); seek out the man of God who departeth into life eternal; let him pray for the city.” Frightened and bewildered, the Romans searched the whole city for the one well-pleasing to God, but could not find him. During the night vigil the pope besought the Lord to help them find the blessed one. As soon as the Liturgy ended the voice rang out again: “Seek the man of God in the house of Euphemian.” When they came to Euphemian’s house, Saint Alexis had already died. His face shone like an angel’s, and in his hand he held a scroll which they could in no way make him let go. The saint’s body was wrapped in costly cloths. The pope and the emperor knelt before the remains and besought him to open his hand. The saint opened his hand. When the letter was read, his parents and his bride, weeping, bowed down before the holy remains.

The saint’s body was laid in the city square. All Rome gathered round it. The pope and the emperor carried the saint into the church on their own shoulders. A week later he was laid in a marble tomb. A healing, fragrant myrrh began to flow from the holy relics.