Saint Barnabas and Saint Sophronios, Founders of the Monastery of the Mother of God of Soumela, and Saint Christopher, who restored it

Feast Day: August 18th

The Life of Saint Barnabas, Saint Sophronios and Saint Christopher: Our Venerable Fathers Barnabas and Sophronios were the Founders of the Monastery of the Panagia of Soumela… While Celebrating the Divine Liturgy one day, Barnabas in a Vision received a command from the Theotokos to go from Athens to Trebizond to build a Monastery there. Under the protection of the Icon of Panagia Atheniotissa, which was believed to have been painted by the Evangelist Luke, they came through many dangers and vicissitudes to the unhospitable side of Mount Melas, where in the year 386 they built the famous Monastery of the Panagia of Soumela, now making it the home of the Icon of the Atheniotissa… Panagia appeared to a nearby illiterate farmer, Christopher, and sent him to the ruined Monastery to renew and revive it. The Theotokos continued to guide him as he moved to the Monastery, where he found that the Cave-church and Icon were Miraculously safe. She herself taught him to read, and at length other men came to join him…

Prayers

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone: By the anointing of the Divine Child, you abandoned the cares of life, and each were radiantly initiated into strange Mysteries, as a phoenix in the courts of the Lord, you truly prospered, Barnabas, Sophronios and Christopher, intercede with Christ God, O thrice-praised Fathers, that our Souls be saved.

Apolytikion in the First Tone: The three radiant lights of the Three-sunned Godhead, who shone forth radiantly from the Choir of Monastics, as initiates and Venerators of the Theotokos, and God-bearers anointed by the command of the Pure one, Barnabas the most-exalted, and the God-bearer Sophronios, with the noble Christopher, taught by God from nothing, all of those who honour their life, let us gather and honour them with Hymns, for they ever intercede with the Trinity for us.