Orthodox Parables and Stories: The Birds and the Ox

 

Since he was young, Saint Hesychios, who came from Andrapa in Galatia, longed for the ascetic life, so he went to Mount Maion, where he settled.

There he began to cultivate the land to earn a living. But the birds of the area would go and eat or destroy what he had cultivated. Even though he chased them away, they wouldn't tell him to leave him alone. So one day he came out of his cell, raised his hands to the sky and, addressing the birds, said:

- Get away from the monks and do not harm their labors.

Then the birds, as if sensible, listened to his command, went away and did not return.

        On another occasion, coming out of his cell, he saw a driver trying to lift the ox that was pulling his carriage, which, for some unknown reason (perhaps from fatigue or some disease), was lying on the ground, almost dead. Saint Hesychios then approached, comforted the conductor, who, unable to do anything, was crying and fainting. Then he bent over the half-dead animal, made the sign of the Cross on its neck, and said:

- Get up and go on your way, because if you stay here someone may be found to slaughter you, blessed one. As soon as the animal heard these words, it immediately got up and continued on its way.

For his great virtue Saint Hesychios was claimed by the Lord to converse with the Angels. Even on the day of his sleep, he was informed a few days earlier by an Angel of the Lord. His holy and miraculous relic was transferred in 781 AD. in Aliasia, King Constantine.