Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours (+c. 400)

Saint Martin the Merciful, bishop of Tours, was born in the city of Sabaria in Pannonia. Before he became a monk he served as a commander in the army of the Emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363). When barbarians attacked the empire, he went out of the city with his troop to fight them; on the way he came upon a poor man, took pity on him and gave him his own cloak. That night the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Martin and promised him victory over the enemy.

The emperor met the victor with celebrations and proposed that he offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the idols. But Martin answered: I wish to offer sacrifice to Christ, through whose help I have won the victory, and to become a monk.

The holy father took up the hard labours of the monastic life, and some years later, eight versts from Poitiers, he founded the house of Ligugé, which soon became a hearth of monasticism in France. For his holy life Martin was consecrated bishop of Tours (in France) against his will. The blessed hierarch gave everyone an example of humility, patience and meekness. He chose a remote and deserted place for his labours, where he founded a house (afterwards the famous monastery of Marmoutier). He travelled about the neighbouring lands, preached Orthodoxy and confirmed his teaching with miracles. Along with all this the blessed father was wonderfully merciful. For his love and charity he was called “the Merciful”. The hierarch, endowed with the gifts of working miracles and of prophecy, reposed in peace around the year 400, at the age of eighty. He foresaw the day of his own repose. Many miracles took place at the venerable father’s relics.