Admin: I quite enjoyed hearing this saint’s story when I was at the liturgy recently. It’s very glorious, very amazing, very awe-inspiring. Intercede for us sinners, oh holy St Pisentius.
On this day (20th July) Anba Pisentius, Bishop of Qift, departed. This saint was born in the village of Shamir, district of Armant, about the year 284 of the martyrs (568 A.D.) to pious Christian parents who raised him up with evangelical principles. He learned the church subjects since his young age and memorized many of the holy books. He longed for the monastic life so he went and became a monk in the monastery of Abi FAM on mount Shamah. He was discipled at the hands of the saint Anba Elijah the great and spent most of his monastic life on el-Asas mount.
This saint pursued his monastic struggle diligently caring for perpetual prayers, memorizing the Holy Bible along with many fasts. He ate once every two days or every three days and at times once a week. When he prayed his fingers lit like candles and when he read in the prophetic books the prophet who wrote the book would appear to him.
Once one of the brethren came to his cell and found the door was opened and as he entered he found him talking to another person. The brother took the hand of the guest and kissed it as the guest was leaving. The brother asked Anba Pisentius saying; “I ask you O my father let me know the name of this saint for when I held his hand and kissed it, I felt a great power came upon me and my heart was filled with joy and peace.” Anba Pisentius replied: “The Lord looked upon my weakness and illness so He sent me one of His chosen saints, Elijah the Tishbite, who comforted me with his heavenly words.”
The Lord performed many miracles by his hands. Once all the water pots were empty while he was up on the mountain and the brethren was about to die of thirst, the saint prayed and they found the pots full of water so they glorified God. When he entered the inner wilderness he had difficulty finding water, he prayed for four days and the Lord sprung fresh water well for him.
Pope Demian (Demianos), 35th Patriarch, consecrated him a bishop for Qift about the year 595 A.D. He accepted the ordination according to a divine calling and he told the priests of the parish: “If not for the fear of being disobedient to the One commanded me, I would not have agreed to you in this matter even if you had beheaded me.” He was a watchful shepherd cared for the salvation of every soul and was charitable. He was known for his awe-inspiring appearance for no one could look at his face in spite of his smile and the ease of talking with him. Whenever he went up to the altar to pray his face would shine as fire and the sins of the people would be revealed before him. He beheld the Holy Spirit coming down upon the holy gifts. God granted him the gift of prophesying and the door of his cell was opened to everyone.
When his departure drew near, he called his disciple John and told him, and then he gathered the people and exhorted them. Finally he asked them not to bury him in splendid garments but with the apparel that he had on. He fell sick for a short while then departed in peace.
The blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen.
The Art of Orthodoxy 