Venerable Acacius the Obedient, Mentioned in the Ladder (VI)

The Venerable Acacius the Obedient, “a youth… simple in nature and wise in mind”, lived under obedience to a very careless and hot-tempered elder in one of the monasteries of Asia. The wrathful elder “tormented him daily not only with insults and outrages, but with blows and beatings.” The holy father John the Sabbaite said: “I saw him every day in great beatings and affliction, like a purchased slave.” The young man bore everything with long-suffering and thanksgiving.

Acacius spent nine years with the merciless elder and died. “They buried him in the burial place of the fathers.” Five days after the burial Acacius’s wrathful teacher went to a holy father who lived in seclusion in the same monastery and told him with sorrow of his spiritual son’s death. He received the answer: “Believe me, elder, I do not believe that he is dead.” Then Acacius’s teacher led the elder to the new grave. The holy father called to the departed: “Brother Acacius, art thou dead?” And the blessed one showed obedience even after death: from the grave there came: “How is it possible, father, for one who is obedient to die?” On hearing this, the spiritual father of the obedient monk was seized with bitter repentance, and “fell upon his face with great weeping.” After this he settled by Acacius’s grave and said humbly to all who came: “I have committed murder.”

The Venerable John Climacus (commemorated 30 March) cited this account in his Ladder of Divine Ascent as an example of patience and obedience.