Orthodox Parables and Stories: Miracles of St. Savvas

The great ascetic of the desert, Saint Savvas the Beloved, was born in the village of Mutalaski in Cappadocia by devout and well-known parents, John and Sophia. He abandoned the world at the age of seven-eight years old and became a monk.

At the age of forty he settled in a steep and uncultivated cave and left his simple diet to the mercy of God, who never abandoned him. He stayed in that cave for five years, and his reputation spread daily throughout Palestine. Thus, many virtuous monks supplemented his entourage daily. When Saint Savvas found that the cave was impossible to fit them all, he was forced to build a spacious Lavra beneath the cave.

        Most of his wonders are about human beings, but also about animals. That's why people and animals loved him, respected him and they obeyed him.

Once, while the Saint was in his cave and prayed to the Lord to send him water (the nearest source of water was three kilometers away), he heard outside beats and kicks. So he looked and saw a donkey digging at the feet of the earth. Shortly, from the small pit, clear water sprang out of which the donkey drank, quenched his thirst and disappeared. The next day the Saint came down from his cave, dug with his trowel a little deeper at the same spot and water gushed out. Until this day, all the fathers of the Lavra are served from this water!!!

Once, the Saint went to meet one of his disciples, Agapios, who practiced a short distance from Himself. He found him sleeping, while a large lion was on top of him, ready to devour him. Then the Saint, without fear, approached it, made the sign of the cross and ordered the lion to depart. Indeed, the lion retreated, lowered his head, as if ashamed of what he was about to do, and then fled.

Another time, bandits stormed the Monastery, believing that they would find something valuable to steal. But they left empty handed because neither money nor gold was found as they had hoped for. On their way, they met ferocious lions, ready to devour them. The bandits, having no other help, cited the name of the monk Savva: "We swear by  monk Savva's blessing, do not harm us." As soon as the lions heard this honorable name, they made a change and left without harming anyone. Saint Savvas died on December 5, 533 AD, at the age of ninety-four. Miracles still occur after his repose until this day!!!