SAINT RABULAS, ABBOT - 19 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

 Saints celebrated on the 19th of February

SAINT RABULAS, ABBOT

Saint Rabulas, "abbot in the Orient," was born in Samosata around A.D. 460. Having been instructed by a certain Barypsabas, a Syrian, he practised every virtue, living on his own on mountains and in caves. 

After quite a few years had thus gone by, he set off to Phoenicia with a companion, where he shone wonderfully by his virtues and, against his will, was also introduced to high-ranking men. With the help of Emperor Zeno (A.D. 474) and the governor John of Beirut (Berythus) he built a large monastery on a mountain.

From then on, this institute was the base from where he and the brethren went to the Gentiles and brought many to the knowledge of God. Supported by the emperor Anastasius (A.D. 491), who succeeded Zeno, he built another monastery in Byzantium, which received his name. 

He was exceedingly sober, humble, gentle, full of love for his brothers, full of mercy for all, and lived to the time of the Emperor Justinian the Great (A.D. 527). 

When he was more than 80 years old, he heard a voice from heaven calling to him, "Come to me, all you who are weary and laden, and I will give you rest." After a short illness, he fell asleep in the Lord . Thus run the Greek legends. According to the Bollandists*, Rabulas died in A.D. 530.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882, pp. 20-21)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Rabulas may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.