Mar Yadt of Alexandria
There was an honored archon (nobleman) among the leading men of the city of Alexandria named Justus. He was righteous and devout, keeping the commandments and ordinances of God. His wife, Priscilla, showed mercy to strangers and the poor.
God gave them a son, whom they named Yadt. They rejoiced greatly at his birth and made a great feast for the poor and needy, and also for the father priests and deacons, who all blessed the boy.
His Upbringing
From his earliest years the boy learned the books of the Church. His teacher admired his intelligence, understanding and humility, loved him dearly, and gave him a small room next to his study. There he would sit alone studying the Holy Scriptures night and day, fasting alone until evening and giving his food to the poor and needy.
Yadt was simple in his food, his drink and his bedding. Tears would stream from his eyes, and when his friends asked him why, he would answer, “There is a pain in my eye.” He stayed in that place eight years, mastering the study of the Holy Scriptures and keeping vigil in fasting and prayer.
His Monastic Life
A monk from the Monastery of Anba Pakhom came to the city of Alexandria. He was of the same people as the young Yadt, and he rejoiced greatly to see the grace of God resting on Yadt, and spoke with him about monasticism and the way of the saints.
Yadt pleaded with his parents to let him go with this father to live the monastic life with the Lord Christ. Because his parents were virtuous and lived in the fear of God, they granted his request, saying to him, “May the Lord Christ make your way easy and help you, comfort our hearts, and ease the pain of your parting.”
Yadt rejoiced greatly and traveled with the monk. When they reached the monastery, the abbot was very glad to see him, and when he saw the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ increasing in him, he made him a monk.
Yadt carried out the divine service and did everything fitting for the monastic way. He kept vigil all night in prayer and ate one loaf a week, on Sunday, and continued in this way for three years.
Joining the Company of Saint Mar Okeen
One day he went to a righteous elder named Antony. When the elder saw him, he said to him, “Come in peace, son of the King of Peace. Peace be to you and to the company you wish to join.” For in truth the monk Yadt wanted to join the disciples of Saint Mar Okeen the Egyptian.
Yadt said to the elder, “Pray for me, my father, for I long to go to the lands of Syria and Mesopotamia with the company of Saint Okeen.” The elder stretched out his hand and blessed him, saying, “May the God of your fathers be with you, strengthen you and fulfill your desire.”
When the abbot of his monastery heard this, it was very hard for him, as for a true father losing a true son. After Father Yadt had prayed the Sunday Liturgy with the brothers, he received their blessing, and they all wept, grieved at his parting.
On his way to the land of Syria he would see the angel of the Lord going before him with a sword of fire in his hand. On the way he prayed to God to lift the plague from the city of Harran, and all its people believed in the Lord Christ.
The Healing of the Persian Deputy’s Son
He became known for piety and virtue among the disciples of Saint Mar Okeen, and he was always preaching the Lord Christ. One day a group of Jews conspired against the Christians before the deputy of the Persian king, saying, “The Christians are a misguided people. They say that Jesus Christ their God raises the dead, but we Jews crucified Him, and He died on the cross and could not save Himself.”
The king’s deputy raised a persecution against the Christians, and panic spread through the city. Yadt went to him. When the deputy saw him, he said, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am an Alexandrian monk; I worship Jesus Christ.” The deputy said, “Do you really work mighty works in the name of your God?” The saint answered, “Yes, for those who believe in His name. How is it that you want to see His signs but do not want to believe in Him?” The deputy answered, “If you heal my son of leprosy, I will believe, and I will raise the standing of all who believe in His name.”
The saint ordered the boy to be brought, prayed over him and signed him with the sign of the Cross, and he was healed at once. The saint worked many signs and wonders in the name of Christ, until many believed in the name of the Lord Christ.
His Departure
After a great struggle he gave up his pure soul. The father monks, priests and deacons gathered and shrouded him with psalms and hymns. This was on the twenty-seventh day of October.
May the blessing of his prayers be with us. Amen.
Sources
- The Life of Mar Yadt of Alexandria, from the lives of the disciples of Saint Mar Okeen