Venerable Publius of Egypt (IV)

The Venerable Publius of Egypt (IV) laboured in the Egyptian desert in the time of the Emperor Julian the Apostate. Before his campaign against the Persians the emperor sent a sorcerer to scout the route. By the grace of the Holy Spirit the Venerable Publius learned of the emperor’s design and stood up to pray. For ten days the sorcerer, famous throughout the empire, waited for the venerable father to finish his prayer, and at last went to the emperor and told him of his defeat. The enraged Julian swore to take revenge on the saint as soon as he returned, but he could not keep his oath, for he soon perished.

One of Julian’s commanders gave away all his property to the poor, went to Saint Publius, and was tonsured a monk.