Paul of Latros
Our Venerable Father Paul the Younger of Mount Latros
Venerable · d. 955
Commemorated 15 December — Repose on Mount Latros
Paul the Younger (†955) was a hermit and monastic founder of Mount Latros (the ancient Latmos), the range above Miletus in western Asia Minor that became one of the great monastic centres of the middle Byzantine period. Born near Pergamum and orphaned young, he was schooled in a Phrygian monastery and, after his mother's death, gave himself wholly to the ascetic life at Latros, withdrawing at length into a cave. Renowned for clairvoyance and wonderworking, he was consulted by letter by the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus; he twice retired to the island of Samos, where he founded a monastery and restored three others ruined in the Arab raids. Foretelling his end, he reposed in 955.
Origins and early life
Paul was born, the tradition says, at Elaia (the Slavic life's "Aelen") in the region of Pergamum, the son of a soldier named Antiochus who died on campaign. After his father's death Paul was placed, with his elder brother Basil, in a monastery of Saint Stephen in Phrygia, where he was educated. When his mother too had died, he was free to follow his brother into the fuller monastic life, and made his way to Mount Latros — Latmos — near the mouth of the Maeander above Miletus, a mountain already thick with hermitages and lavrae.
Ascetic struggle
At Latros Paul entered the monastic life in earnest, and then pressed beyond the common discipline of the community, secluding himself in a cave to live as a hesychast in extreme austerity. The tradition credits his labours with the gifts of clairvoyance and of wonderworking, and his reputation drew disciples until a lavra gathered around him — the monastery of Stylos becoming, under and after him, the leading house of the mountain. His fame reached Constantinople: the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (sole reign 945–959), the tradition reports, wrote to him more than once, asking his prayers and his counsel.
Foundations and repose
Twice Paul withdrew across the water to the island of Samos, where he established a monastery and restored three others that had been laid waste by the "Hagarenes" — the Arab fleets that harried the Aegean in that age. Returning to Latros, and having foretold the day of his death, he reposed in the year 955. Mount Latros continued after him as a flourishing monastic republic for centuries, its houses — Stylos chief among them — preserving his memory as their patron.
Feast and commemoration
December 15 (church date; Old Calendar civil December 28), kept with the Hieromartyr Eleutherius of Illyricum, whose proper office fills the day's Menaion; Paul's own hymns are sung alongside it. The day falls within the Nativity Fast. Paul is styled "the Younger" to distinguish him from earlier ascetics of the name, and "of Latros" or "of Latmos" from his mountain.
Hymns
Troparion — Tone 4
As a fellow-dweller with the Bodiless Powers and a companion of all the venerable, O all-glorious Paul, we hymn thee and entreat thee: pray thou ever for us, that we may find mercy.
Original translation from the Greek
Kontakion — Tone 8
From thy youth, O wise one, thou didst manfully long for that which surpasses understanding; thou didst forsake the tumult of the world, and for the sake of thy divine way of life thou didst become a dwelling-place of the Trinity, and didst enlighten by faith those who drew near to thee. Wherefore we cry: Rejoice, O most-blessed Paul.
Original translation from the Greek
Iconography
Paul is depicted as an aged monk in the schema, white-bearded, in the manner of the great hesychast fathers, sometimes shown before or beside his cave on the mountain. No public-domain or free-licensed image of him verified to his identity has yet been secured for storage; the entry is listed among the wanted icons.