Synaxarion
By Haralambos M. Bousias
On the 16th day of this same month (May), we commemorate our Venerable Father Baras, who lived in asceticism in Constantinople.*
Verses
Baras strangely offered incense to an earthly ruler;
Now he offers incense to the King of All in the heavenly city.
By Haralambos M. Bousias
On the 16th day of this same month (May), we commemorate our Venerable Father Baras, who lived in asceticism in Constantinople.*
Verses
Baras strangely offered incense to an earthly ruler;
Now he offers incense to the King of All in the heavenly city.
He was originally from Egypt, and lived a God-loving ascetic life in the regions of the Queen of Cities together with his companions Raboulas and Patapios, with whom he came to the capital of Byzantium during the reign of Emperor Zeno. These three Fathers loved silence and solitude, yet they also avoided complete isolation as something blameworthy. Therefore they established small dwellings for their ascetic struggles: Patapios settled in the more northern area, near the seaside wall of Blachernae; Raboulas in the more southern part; and Baras midway between them. Finding an old church dedicated to the Forerunner, and being a zealous imitator of his labors, Baras made his dwelling there.
In time, many monks gathered around him, and he built a renowned monastery dedicated to the Baptist, called the Monastery of Petra. As Emperor Anastasios approached the monastery on a hunting expedition, he marveled at the Venerable one, who came out to meet him while censing, carrying burning coals in the fold of his poor and worn cloak. The emperor therefore granted him extensive lands. After living peacefully and in a God-pleasing manner, and being counted worthy of extraordinary miracles, he departed to the Lord.
Apolytikion.
Tone Plagal First. “Ton synanarchon Logon”.
The one striving alongside the divine Patapios and the venerable Raboulas in prayer and asceticism,
and traversing heaven with his mind, Baras, let us hymn joyfully as the sacred adornment of Byzantium, crying out: fill us all with joy, weighed down by many afflictions.
Kontakion.
Tone Plagal Fourth. “Ti Ypermacho”.
The one who was given wings by love for the King of All, and who unceasingly followed His divine footsteps through the labors of self-restraint; the ascetic of the Queen of all cities and zealous imitator of the Forerunner, with longing we cry out: Rejoice, blessed Baras.
Oikos
You appeared as an angel in the flesh, all-honored Baras, having practiced asceticism well in Byzantium. Therefore now, with the choirs of Angels, O Venerable One, you stand before the sacred throne of the Lord, granting strength to those who cry to you with longing:
Rejoice, full of the wisdom of God;
rejoice, initiate of His providence.
Rejoice, bright joy of the Venerable Ones;
rejoice, splendid adornment of the Fathers.
Rejoice, most genuine friend of the chosen Raboulas;
rejoice, most divine fellow-dweller of the renowned Patapios.
Rejoice, you who rejected the pleasures of life;
rejoice, you who illumined the multitudes of Byzantium.
Rejoice, dwelling-place of kindness;
rejoice, model of goodness.
Rejoice, rule of prayer and fasting;
rejoice, clear image of temperance.
Rejoice, blessed Baras.
Megalynarion
You are a link in the choir of the God-illumined ascetics, Patapios and Raboulas, who lived venerably in Byzantium, O Spirit-bearing Father, thrice-great Baras.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
* He is mentioned only in Gedeon’s Byzantine Menologion (p. 217). The icon above of the Saint is A.I. generated.
