Modestus of Jerusalem
Encyclopedia
Modestus of Jerusalem was a Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
, who is commemorated as a saint by the Orthodox church, on May 17, March 29 or December 17 in the Palestinian-Georgian calendar venerates him or December 16 and October 19 in the Acta Sanctorum
.
He was born in Cappadocian Sebasteia. Five months old at his Christian parents' death, he was raised as a Christian. As an adult he was sold as a slave in Egypt, but converted his pagan master to Christianity and was freed by him. Withdrawing to Mount Sinai
to live as an ascetic, he was later made abbot of the Monastery of St. Theodosius
in Palestine.
In 614 Chosroes II destroyed Jerusalem
, killed 90,000 Christians and captured the Patriarch of Jerusalem (then Zacharias), other Christians and the True Cross
. Modestus had been on his way to raise Greek troops to oppose this and was surrounded by Persian troops, having a narrow escape. Modestus was then chosen to stand in for Zacharias as Patriarch. He buried the monks killed at the monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified
and rebuilt the Holy Sepulchre, the city's churches and monasteries with help from John the Merciful
, Patriarch of Alexandria
. In 628 Zacharias was released and resumed his role as Patriarch. Modestus then became Patriarch in his own right on Zacharias's death in 632. On Modestus's death he was buried in the Church of the Eleona on the Mount of Olives
.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is the head bishop of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, ranking fourth of nine Patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 2005, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem has been Theophilos III...
, who is commemorated as a saint by the Orthodox church, on May 17, March 29 or December 17 in the Palestinian-Georgian calendar venerates him or December 16 and October 19 in the Acta Sanctorum
Acta Sanctorum
Acta Sanctorum is an encyclopedic text in 68 folio volumes of documents examining the lives of Christian saints, in essence a critical hagiography, which is organised according to each saint's feast day. It begins with two January volumes, published in 1643, and ended with the Propylaeum to...
.
He was born in Cappadocian Sebasteia. Five months old at his Christian parents' death, he was raised as a Christian. As an adult he was sold as a slave in Egypt, but converted his pagan master to Christianity and was freed by him. Withdrawing to Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
to live as an ascetic, he was later made abbot of the Monastery of St. Theodosius
Monastery of St. Theodosius
The Monastery of St. Theodosius is the monastery founded east of the village of al-Ubeidiya , 12 kilometres east of Bethlehem...
in Palestine.
In 614 Chosroes II destroyed Jerusalem
Siege of Jerusalem (614)
The Siege of Jerusalem in 614 was part of the final phase of the Byzantine-Sassanid Wars. The Persian Shah Khosrau II appointed his generals to conquer the Byzantine controlled areas of the Near East, establishing a strategic alliance with the Jewish population of the Sassanid Persia...
, killed 90,000 Christians and captured the Patriarch of Jerusalem (then Zacharias), other Christians and the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
. Modestus had been on his way to raise Greek troops to oppose this and was surrounded by Persian troops, having a narrow escape. Modestus was then chosen to stand in for Zacharias as Patriarch. He buried the monks killed at the monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified
Mar Saba
The Great Lavra of St. Sabbas the Sanctified, known in Arabic as Mar Saba , is a Greek Orthodox monastery overlooking the Kidron Valley in the West Bank east of Bethlehem. The traditional date for the founding of the monastery by Saint Sabas of Cappadocia is the year 483 and today houses around 20...
and rebuilt the Holy Sepulchre, the city's churches and monasteries with help from John the Merciful
John the Merciful
John the Merciful was the Patriarch of Alexandria in the early 7th century and a christian saint.- Early life :He was born at Amathus...
, Patriarch of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
. In 628 Zacharias was released and resumed his role as Patriarch. Modestus then became Patriarch in his own right on Zacharias's death in 632. On Modestus's death he was buried in the Church of the Eleona on the Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge in East Jerusalem with three peaks running from north to south. The highest, at-Tur, rises to 818 meters . It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes...
.
External links
- Building projects of Modestus
- Orthodox Church in America - Modestus of Jerusalem
- http://orthodoxwiki.org/Modestus_of_Jerusalem
- http://www.orthodox.net/menaion-december/18-st-modestus-patriarch-of-jerusalem.html