By Fr. George Dorbarakis
Saint Savvas lived during the reign of Theodosius the Younger, in a village of Cappadocia called Mutalaske, and his parents’ names were John and Sophia. From the very beginning of his life he turned to the monastic way, entering a monastery called Flavianae. He became so self-restrained from an early age that once, when he saw an apple in the garden and desired it, he said: "Fair to the sight and good for food was the fruit that put me to death." He took the apple in his hands, but did not eat it; instead, he trampled it under his feet and made it a rule for himself never to eat an apple again. Once, even when he entered a furnace, he came out unharmed, without the fire touching even his garments. At the age of eighteen he was met by the great Saint Euthymios, who sent him to a cenobium, to Saint Theoktistos. From everyone he encountered, he received and learned their manners and their virtue. Seeing him, Saint Euthymios would address him as a "child-elder," because of his spiritual maturity far beyond the common measure. As he grew older, his virtue increased as well. For this reason he performed many miracles — he even drew water by his prayer in barren places. He became the teacher of many monks, and when he came to Constantinople, he twice sent envoys both to Emperors Anastasios and to Justinian, at the request of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem of his time. He reached the very height of life in Christ and, at the age of ninety-four, departed to the Lord.
It is a fundamental truth of the Christian faith that a saint is understood by another saint. Only one who has developed spiritual senses can “perceive the fragrance” emitted by the life of a saint. Otherwise, one who has not tasted spiritual life walks through the world like a blind person and is therefore unable to see the light radiated by the presence of a saint. Why do we mention this with regard to Saint Savvas? For the simple reason that the one who immediately understood and “perceived” him — who saw his advanced spiritual state — was the great Saint Euthymios. This Saint addressed the young Savvas as “child-elder,” which means that he recognized his holiness from youth. From then on, the eyes of the great Euthymios became the eyes of the other monks as well; that is, they too began to discern the gifts he had received from God, which were confirmed clearly through the miracles God allowed to be accomplished through him, as well as through the fragrance that flowed from his holy relic. These things are also proclaimed by his Hymnographer, Saint Theophanes. He records Saint Euthymios’ discernment (“The most radiant luminary, Euthymios, received you with a most cheerful soul and kindly disposition, seeing you adorned with virtues”) and also mentions the many miracles of Saint Savvas (“Wondrous are your marvels: for you tame the beasts… you foretell things to come with prophetic gift, you drive away the hordes of demons…”), as well as the fragrance of myrrh flowing from his reliquary, which gladdens the faithful (“Your reliquary gives forth spiritual fragrance, abundantly delighting your children”).
The wisdom of Saint Savvas from childhood — a wisdom according to God — is also interpreted by the Hymnographer with reference to his mother Sophia: “Being the offspring of Sophia, O holy Savvas, from childhood you longed for the hypostatic Sophia,” meaning: You were the child of Sophia, O holy Savvas, and so you longed from childhood for the hypostatic Wisdom, Christ. This wisdom is shown clearly in the fact that wherever he went, he kept his eyes open to perceive the life in Christ of those dedicated to God, and to imitate their struggles and virtues. He did not focus on the weaknesses of others,for as humans they certainly had them. Because of his great desire for God, his concern was how to progress spiritually. And this meant taking advantage of everything that appeared along his path. His case resembles that of the great Elder of the ages, Saint Anthony, who, like a bee, tried to gather whatever good the holy servants of God in his time offered him. And just as Anthony, for this reason, became “beloved of God,” so also did Saint Savvas. This is a great lesson for all Christians, especially in our own time, when, unfortunately, much of our attention is fixed on the negatives and weaknesses of others, without being able to see their positive qualities and virtues for our own benefit. To use the expression of Elder Paisios the Athonite, a saint of our times, Saint Savvas lived and acted in the world as a bee that gathers good fruit, and not as a fly, which always seeks filth.
As a result of this wisdom and prudence, Saint Savvas became filled with all virtues. As the relevant hymn notes: “You were revealed, Father, as a house of God, for you were moderate, guileless, gentle, simple, quiet, truly above human nature, and immaterial in matter.” Yet the Hymnographer is aware that virtue by itself has little significance if it does not lead to the fullness of virtues: love. If love is not the culmination of every virtue, then that virtue ceases to be Christian, for God Himself, who is love, is missing. Therefore he emphasizes: “Having acquired love for God and for your neighbor, you fulfill the sum of the Law and the Prophets; for you accomplished, Father, the virtue that surpasses all virtues without comparison.” And the Hymnographer also knows that no one attains such love unless it is built upon the fear of God, which makes one keep His holy commandments. “You longed for the beginning of wisdom, the fear of God. Being shaped by this fear, Father, you reached the perfection that is possible for human beings.”
Such a sanctified life as that of Saint Savvas, tracing the footsteps of Christ and the Apostles, naturally radiated outward and became a flame of missionary zeal. His fellow monks, as well as others who knew him, were changed and converted, mainly by his example, but also by his word, for the Saint proclaimed the doctrines of our Church with great strength and persuasion: “You were ordained a most loud-voiced preacher of divine dogmas.” Many even abandoned worldly pursuits and became monks. “You became a converser with the Holy Spirit; therefore, arousing the zeal of the peoples, you emptied the cities and populated the deserts, our God-bearing Father.”
"Through the intercessions of our Venerable Father Savvas, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us."
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
