Today, on December 18 (5), the Orthodox world celebrates the commemoration day of St. Sabbas the Sanctified.

St. Sabbas the Sanctified was born in V century, in Cappadocia in a pious Christian family of John and Sophia. His father was a chieftain. Leaving for service in Alexandria, he took with him his wife and five year old son was left in the care of his uncle. When St. Sabbas became eight years old, he entered the monastery in the vicinity of holy Flavian.

At the age of 17 he took his monastic vows, and so succeeded in fasting and prayer, that he was awarded the gift of miracles. After spending ten years in the monastery of Flavian, the monk went to Jerusalem and thence to the monastery of St. Euphemia the Great.

St. Sabbas founded several monasteries. Many miracles have been revealed by the prayers of St. Sabbas: at Lavra cropped up the spring, the torrential rain poured down during drought, the sick and the possessed people were healed. St. Sabbas wrote the first charter of the church services, so-called "Jerusalem", adopted by all the Palestinian monasteries.

St. Sabbas the Sanctified died peacefully in 532 at age of 94 years. In 1256 his remains were moved to Venice and buried in the church of San Antonio; on November 12, 1965 the relics of the saint were sent back to the monastery.