The Life of Our Venerable Father Paul the Simple☦
March 20 — Commemoration Day of St. Paul the Simple
Commemorated October 4/17, March 7/20. According to St. Demetrius of Rostov
LIFE:
St. Paul the Simple lived in the fourth century. He was called "the Simple" for his simplicity and gentleness. He was married, but upon learning of his wife's infidelity, he left her and withdrew to the desert to St. Anthony the Great (commemorated January 17). Paul was already 60 years old, and St. Anthony initially refused to accept him, considering him incapable of the arduous life of solitude. Paul stood for three days at the ascetic's cell, declaring that he would rather die than leave. Then St. Anthony took Paul into his care and tested his patience and humility for a long time with hard labor, strict fasting, night vigils, tireless singing of psalms, and prostrations. Finally, Saint Anthony allowed Paul to settle in a separate cell.
For many years of ascetic labor, the Lord granted Saint Paul clairvoyance and the power to cast out demons. When a possessed youth was brought to Saint Anthony, he directed the sick man to Saint Paul with the words: "Those great in faith can cast out only lesser demons, while the humble, like Paul the Simple, have power over the princes of demons."
Troparion to Saint Paul the Simple, Tone 8
In you, Father, salvation is clearly preserved according to God's image: / For having taken up the Cross, you followed Christ, / and by deeds you taught us to despise the flesh, for it passes away, / and to be diligent in caring for the soul, an immortal thing. // Your spirit rejoices with the Angels, O Venerable Paul.
Translation: In you, Father, precisely what is in us according to God's image has been preserved: having taken up your cross, you followed Christ, and by deeds you taught us to disdain the flesh, as corruptible and mortal, and to care for the soul, an immortal creation. Therefore, your spirit rejoices with the angels, Venerable Paul.
Prayer to Venerable Paul the Simple
O, sacred head, Venerable Father, most blessed Abba Paul! Do not forget your poor ones until the end, but always remember us in holy and favorable prayers to God: remember your flock, which you yourself fell, and do not forget to visit your children, pray for us, holy Father, for your spiritual children, as you have boldness before the Heavenly King: do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not disdain us, who honor you with faith and love: remember us unworthy at the Throne Almighty, and do not cease praying for us to Christ our God, for grace has been given to you to pray for us. For we do not consider you to be dead: for although you have departed from us in body, even after death you remain alive. Do not depart from us in spirit, preserving us from the arrows of the enemy and every demonic deception and wiles of the devil, our good shepherd. For although the relics of your relics are always visible before our eyes, your holy soul, with the angelic hosts, with the incorporeal ranks, with the heavenly powers, standing before the throne of the Almighty, worthily rejoices, knowing that you truly are alive even after death, we fall down before you and pray to you: pray for us to the Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask for us time for repentance, that we may pass unhindered from from earth to Heaven, and may we be delivered from bitter tollhouses, the demonic princes of the air, and eternal torment, and may we be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous who have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ from the ages: to Him is due all glory, honor, and worship, with His Eternal Father, and with His Most Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.