Venerable Theophanes the Confessor (+c. 300)

The Venerable Theophanes the Confessor was born into a pagan family. In his youth he believed in Christ, was baptised, and secretly from his parents went to an aged hermit. The ascetic taught the young man to read the divine books and the rules of the monastic life. Five years later he died, and Theophanes spent fifty-eight years in complete solitude in the hermit’s cave. Then the saint began to preach and converted many to the true faith. By order of the Roman Emperor Carus (282–283) the venerable father was seized and tortured. The confessor bravely endured the torments and by God’s will survived. After he was freed he returned to his cave and spent another seventeen years there in tireless labour. Around 300 he commended his soul to the Lord in peace.