Venerable Sampson the Hospitable (+c. 530)
The Venerable Sampson the Hospitable was the son of rich and noble Romans. In his youth he received a fine education, mastered the art of medicine, and treated the sick without payment. After his parents’ death Sampson set his slaves free and gave away all his property as alms. He wished to go on living in seclusion in the desert, and to this end he set out from Rome for the East, but the Lord called him to quite a different labour. Having come to Constantinople, the saint settled in a small house whose doors were open to all day and night. Filled with love for his neighbour, the host tirelessly served his guests. God blessed Sampson’s labours and granted him the gift of miraculous healing. Word of the saint spread through the whole city. The patriarch called him to himself and ordained him priest.
Once, when the Emperor Justinian (527–565) was gravely ill, it was revealed to him from on high that only Sampson could heal him. And indeed, the grace-filled physician prayed and touched the painful place with his hand, and the autocrat felt relief. Soon Justinian was completely healed and, rejoicing, offered the saint gold and silver as a reward. Sampson refused the reward and asked instead for a shelter for the infirm and a hospital to be built. The emperor gladly granted the request.
Sampson devoted all the rest of his life to the service of his neighbour. He reached deep old age and commended his soul to the Lord in peace (+c. 530). The saint was buried in the church of the holy Martyr Mocius. Many healings took place at his tomb. The shelter for the infirm and the hospital were not closed. The blessed father cared for the suffering even after his death. Twice he appeared to a careless servant of the hospital and rebuked him for his laziness. At the request of those who venerated the Venerable Sampson, the shelter for the infirm was turned into a church, and a new building was put up beside it to receive pilgrims. During a fire in Constantinople the flames did not touch Sampson’s shelter. Through the saint’s prayer rain came down from heaven and put out the fire.
