Stylianos of Paphlagonia(app. 400AD-500 AD) or Stylianos the Hermit is an unusual Saint highly venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church. On one hand, he is an example of a pious asceticism, on the other he is a healer & children’s protector.
Saint Stylianos was born in a poor family in Andrianopolis. Since youth he was very pious, so he decided to join a monastery. Left all his possessions to the poor, he took of monastic vows. Nevertheless his devotion & asceticism made other monks jealous so he was forced to abandon them & to shelter as a hermit in a cave in the wildness. It was his first Christian deed, the one that opened to him all the solemnity of the world created by Lord. He spent days offering prayers & fasting, but he did not leave the laic world. He returned back to people to preach, to encourage them & to heal.
The second deed was a gift of healing descended upon him through a little boy who he cured with the force of the Saint Spirit & a prayer. This incredible event made him famous & all kinds of people in need began visiting his cave where they obtain an instant saving & healing.
Saint Stylianos paid great attention to children: he cured their flesh & gave them spiritual education. Probably, he was one of the first founder of a nursery school. Besides, he became a parton of all the newborn babies & thanks to him a plenty of childless women became mothers.
They say that he was a kind, a quiet & a smiling person. He lived a long life & even in the article of death his countenance kept a smile & a solemn brilliance of the Saint Spirit.
Saint Stylianos is celebrated on the 9th of December.
Maria KethuProfumo
eternamenta 
Beautiful description, Dear Maria. Thank you.
Thank you, dear John! 🙂
Grazie per avermelo fatto conoscere ❤
Prego, cara Fulvialuna. Le preghiere dedicate a lui sono molto forti. 😉😊
Dove le trovo?
Ecco e il link con una preghiera piccola in italiano ed una in greco: http://www.ortodoxia.it/SAN%20STILIANOS%20di%20Paflagonia.html
Posso emailti una preghiera originale russa con il testo translitterato per leggere in italiano. 😊
Grazie Maria.
“Probably, he was one of the first founder of a nursery school.” Questo sì che è un grande merito! 🙂
Hi Maria, I have not heard of Saint Stylianos before. It is good to learn about him and know he helped children.
Great, dear Robbie! Thank you! 🙂