Saint Isaac the Confessor, abbot of the Monastery of Dalmatia
Date of celebration: 30/05
Saint Isaac came from Syria and lived during the reign of King Walis (364 AD), who was a supporter of the Arians. Once the Ostrogoths, despite the government’s ban, camped in Thrace and threatened Constantinople. Then Wales was forced to march against them. Isaakios, who was an abbot in the Monastery of Dalmatia, went out and met the opponent of the orthodox Wali, and after taking hold of his horse by the bridles, he said to him: “Lead the shepherds, the excellent shepherd, and receive the victory without suffering, and there is nothing in their ranks , learn from experience that the center is hard to kick even because you fight and fight the soldier” (Acts of the Apostles, ch. 14). That is, give the flocks the excellent shepherds and without effort you will get the victory. But if, you do not accept what I tell you and do not agree with them, you will learn from experience that it is a hard thing to kick in the nails. Because you are not going to return from the war either, and soon you will lose the army as well. Not only was Wales not convinced by the abbot’s words, but after mocking him, he threw him into a precipitous gorge. Isaac was miraculously unharmed. And Walis suffered what the Holy Abbot prophesied.
On August 9, 378 AD, a fierce battle was fought around Adrianople, in which the imperial army was defeated, after many of its best generals were killed. Walis, taking refuge in a barn to save himself, was burned alive, together with his commander-in-chief.
As an abbot he attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which met in Constantinople in 381 AD, contributing to its success.
Foreseeing his end, after appointing Saint Dalmatius (honored August 3) as his successor, he slept peacefully in old age in 396 AD.
The memory of Saint Isaac is repeated on August 3.
