Saint Paul the New, Who Lived in Asceticism on Mount Latros (+ 956)

St. Paul of Latros (Feast Day - December 15)

Verses

You were seen as a new Paul in life,
But certainly appeared as equal to the fathers of the past.

Our Venerable Father Paul was born at Pergamos, near Smyrna, in Asia Minor, the son of an officer in the Roman imperial army, who was slain in an engagement with the Saracens. His mother then retired from Pergamos to Bithynia, taking her two sons with her. Basil, the elder, took the monastic habit at Mount Olympus in that country, but soon for the sake of greater solitude retired to Mount Latros. When their mother was dead he induced his brother to embrace the same state of life. Though young, Paul had experienced the world sufficiently to understand the emptiness and dangers of what it has to offer.

Synaxarion of Saint Arsenios the Wonderworker of Mount Latros

St. Arsenios of Latros (Feast Day - December 13)

Verses

Arsenios you imitated O Father,
And with Arsenios you dance in the heavens.

Our Venerable Father Arsenios the Wonderworker was from Constantinople, and the son of pious and wealthy parents, the first according to posterity. While being illustrious according to posterity, the Saint was granted by the emperor another office, to be the general and patrician of the theme known as Kibyrrhaiotai. And when a royal fleet was dispatched, the Saint served as its admiral. Because a great tempest arose, the sea boiled from its depth, and the ships of the fleet capsized. His life alone was spared and he came to dry land.