Venerable David (VI)

Before he came to the monastery the Venerable David was the leader of a band of robbers in Egypt, in the desert of Hermopolis. Many murders and other lawless deeds weighed on his soul. When he reached old age, the blessed one looked back on the path of his past life, and his dark deeds filled him with horror. Full of repentance, he left the band, went to a monastery and asked the abbot to receive him into the brotherhood. For a long time the abbot refused, assuring the newcomer that he would not bear the strict rule of their life; but David kept insisting, and at last, when nothing else availed, he threatened: I am the famous robber David, and if you do not open the gates of the monastery to me for repentance, I will go back to my old life, plunder the monastery and kill the monks. Then the abbot received the robber, and he, to everyone’s amazement, became an exemplary monk and far surpassed the brethren of the monastery in his strict labours. Some time later the Lord sent the Archangel Gabriel to David and announced to him the forgiveness of his sins; the venerable father could not believe that the Lord would forgive so great a sinner as he so soon. For his little faith and mistrust David was struck dumb, and the power of speech returned to him only when he was reading the canons and taking part in the church services. In the evening of his life the saint received the gift of wonderworking. He lived in this way for many years, and then commended his soul to the Lord (VI).