26 June / 9 July

Our Holy Father David

Born in Salonica, where he at first lived the ascetic life in a shelter he had built in an almond tree, he later continued his asceticism in Thessaly. He purified himself so greatly by fasting, prayer and vigils that he was made worthy to receive great grace from God. Once he took a live coal in his hand, placed incense on it and censed the Emperor with no sort of protection for his hand. The Emperor, when he saw this, bowed down to the ground before David, who amazed the people by his countless miracles. He entered peacefully into rest in the blessedness of eternity in 540.

On the same day: The Tikhvin Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God; The Hodogitria Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God; The Icon of the Mother of God of Lydda or Rome; St. Brannoc, abbot of Braunton, England