السيرة
Lives of the Saints and Martyrs in the Coptic Orthodox Church
Saint Aphraates (Aphrahat / Afrahat), the Persian Sage
Saint Aphraates lived as a true ascetic, evangelical in mind. In his asceticism his heart was enlarged with love for all; he met others with a cheerful face, while also striving to guard the faith.
His Upbringing:
It is said that he was born in the fourth century in Persia, and that his parents were idol-worshippers. From his youth, however, he found no peace in the thinking of his fathers and their life filled with abominations. So, when he reached adulthood and met certain Christians and was touched by their love, their gentleness, and their purity, he asked them about their faith. They spoke to him of the oneness of God, the Trinity of the divine Hypostases, and the saving work of God; and he received the faith with great joy and was baptized.
Aphraates resolved to leave his homeland, as Abraham did, and to go to Edessa (al-Ruha) in Mesopotamia, that he might be strengthened by the faith of the Christians there. And since he inclined toward the solitary life, he settled in a place near the city, practicing the ascetic life of worship in a spirit of true piety. The sweet fragrance of Christ went forth in him, and many came seeking his guidance and asking for his prayers.
It seems that he left his place and went to another region in Syria, where he increased in his asceticism; for he would eat nothing but bread and drink water, once a day, together with some uncooked vegetables when he had grown old.
On one occasion one of the governors of the East, named Anthimus, visited him and offered him a new garment that he had brought from Persia, as a gift to the recluse from this land. Since Aphraates was by nature kind and cheerful, he accepted the gift and thanked him for it. After a little while Aphraates said to him: "I would consult you about a matter that perplexes me and troubles my thoughts. About sixteen years ago I resolved to have a single friend, whom I chose to accompany me and live with me. This friend pleased me greatly and comforted me, and never once grieved me.
But now another has come from a distant land and wishes to take his place. Which of the two shall I accept?" The governor answered: "The first." Aphraates smiled and said to him: "This old friend is my garment, which has clung to me through all these long years; how then shall I exchange it for another?" Then the governor smiled, perceiving that Aphraates wished to excuse himself graciously from accepting his gift, and he took back the garment, marveling at his wisdom and his kindness, for he had not wished to wound his feelings even in declining the gift.
With the Emperor Valens:
The saint remained attached to his cell, never leaving it, and it had become a strong spiritual center. All who came to him were comforted by the words of grace that issued from his mouth, and they enjoyed the blessings of God's working with him.
When the Emperor Valens exiled Meletius, Bishop of Antioch, and stirred up persecution against the Church on account of his Arian thinking, Aphraates entered the city of Antioch and encouraged the faithful, strengthening them in the upright faith and demonstrating to them the divinity of the Lord Christ. The Arians were unable to resist him or to dispute with him, because of the grace that had been given to him through his words and his life and the wonders that God worked by his hands; and so the Arians feared him and wished to be rid of him.
The emperor once saw him hurrying along the road despite his old age, and when he asked who he was, he was told that this was the ascetic Aphraates. So he summoned him and asked him the reason for his haste. Aphraates said to him: "That I may gather in the church and pray for the world, and especially for the empire."
Then Valens said to him: "It would have been better for you to keep to your cell and pray in it." The saint answered: "If a maiden, while she is veiled, were to see a fire blazing up in her father's house, would she remain in the house in submission until she is consumed? It is not I who am to be blamed, but rather you, who have kindled the flames in my Father's house, while I am putting them out. I do nothing contrary to our practice when we gather together to refresh those who are loyal to the true faith."
The emperor could not answer him a word; but one of those present reviled the saint and threatened to kill him, and he at once fell down dead, which terrified the emperor. So he did not lay a hand upon Saint Aphraates, despite the attempts of the Arians and their urging him to exile him.
Not long afterward Valens died in a fire, and the Church found rest from his hostility.
The saint returned to his solitude and secluded himself in it, offering his prayers for the world, until he reposed around the year 345 A.D.
The Greek Church commemorates him on the 29th of January, and the Latin Church on the 7th of April