Venerable (Monastic) 5th century

Venerable Auxentius of Bithynia

c. 400 – c. 470

Also known as Auxentius of the Mountain · Auxentios of Bithynia

A Syrian who served at the court of Theodosius the Younger, then withdrew to a mountain in Bithynia as a hermit; sought out for his counsel and gift of healing, he took part in the Council of Chalcedon. Reposed around 470.

Feast Day

February 14

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Auxentius of Bithynia

Come to them for

Healing

Life

Auxentius was a fifth-century Syrian who served at the imperial court during the reign of the emperor Theodosius the Younger before withdrawing to a solitary life as a hermit in Bithynia. He is remembered chiefly as an ascetic sought out for his counsel and for a gift of healing, and as a defender of the Chalcedonian faith who took part in the Fourth Ecumenical Council. He is commemorated on February 14.

By tradition Auxentius was esteemed at court as a virtuous, learned, and wise man, but he grew disillusioned with worldly affairs and embraced the monastic life, receiving ordination to the priesthood and then taking monastic vows. He settled on a mountain in Bithynia, near Chalcedon, where he lived in solitude until shepherds discovered his hidden retreat. As word of him spread, people came to him seeking spiritual direction and bodily healing, and the sources relate that he healed many of the sick in the name of the Lord.

In 451 Auxentius was invited to the Council of Chalcedon, where the sources record that he spoke against the heresies of Eutyches and Nestorius and defended the orthodox confession of Christ. Returning afterward to his ascetic life, he gathered disciples and is associated with the founding of monastic communities in Bithynia. He reposed around the year 470.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide

first half of the 5th c. Served at the imperial court Auxentius held a respected position at the court of Theodosius the Younger before turning to the ascetic life.
c. 451 Council of Chalcedon He was invited to the Fourth Ecumenical Council, where the sources say he spoke against the Eutychian and Nestorian heresies.
c. 470 Repose He reposed as a hermit in Bithynia.

Contributions & Legacy

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From Court to the Mountain

Auxentius came from Syria and held a respected place at the court of Theodosius the Younger, whose reign the sources place in the first half of the fifth century. Accounts describe him as learned and wise, but he turned from public life to pursue asceticism, first being ordained priest and then taking up the monastic discipline.

He withdrew to a mountain in Bithynia near Chalcedon and lived as a hermit. The synaxarion relates that his solitude was broken when shepherds came upon his retreat, after which a steady stream of visitors began to seek him out. A mountain associated with his hermitage came to bear his name.

The Council of Chalcedon

In 451 Auxentius was summoned to take part in the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon. According to the sources he opposed the teachings of Eutyches and Nestorius and upheld the orthodox faith. The Western martyrology likewise remembers him as a defender of the Chalcedonian confession.

After the council he returned to his ascetic life. He is reported to have attracted many disciples and to have been connected with the establishment of monastic communities in Bithynia before his repose around 470.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org)