ST. MODESTOS OF JERUSALEM (DEC. 18TH OR 23RD)

Edited by Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

St. Modestos of Jerusalem, the renowned 7th-century patriarch, stands as a model of pastoral care and steadfast faith in the face of turmoil. Born in AD 580 in the Roman province of Palestine, Modestos entered this world during an era marked by doctrinal conflicts and external threats to the Christian East. Through his humility, compassion, and tireless labors for the Church, he became an enduring example of Christ-like love and dedication to the flock of God. 

From his youth, Modestos was marked by an ascetic fervor. After the death of his parents, he was adopted by a pious Christian couple who nurtured his love for the faith. Sensing the call of God, he entered the monastic life, dedicating himself to prayer, fasting, and service. As a monk, Modestos cultivated deep humility and a profound understanding of Scripture, preparing him for the immense challenges he would later face as a bishop. 

Modestos rose to prominence as the abbot of the Monastery of St. Theodosius, where he guided his fellow monks with wisdom and charity. It was here that his reputation for healing and restoration began to take root, as he sought to repair not only physical ruins but also the spiritual lives of the faithful. 

In AD 614, Jerusalem faced one of its darkest hours when the Persian armies, under King Khosrow II, invaded and laid waste to the city. Churches were burned, holy relics desecrated, and countless Christians were killed or enslaved. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was among the casualties of this devastation. During this time, the patriarch Zacharias was taken captive, leaving the Church in Jerusalem leaderless and wounded. 

Amidst this chaos, Modestos was called to serve as locum tenens (acting patriarch) and later as patriarch of Jerusalem. He immediately set to work restoring not only the physical churches but also the hearts of the people. St. Modestos organized efforts to ransom captives, bury the dead, and rebuild the desecrated holy places, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He became known as the "healer of the Church," bringing comfort and hope to a broken city. 

St. Modestos was renowned for his miracles, particularly his care for animals. According to tradition, he blessed and healed livestock, seeing in their humble service a reflection of God’s providence for creation. His prayers restored flocks to health, ensuring the livelihood of struggling farmers and shepherds. 

This compassion extended to all of God’s creatures, but it was the people of Jerusalem who most deeply felt the love of this saintly patriarch. He tirelessly visited the sick, comforted the bereaved, and strengthened the faithful with his teaching. 

Throughout his episcopacy, Modestos remained steadfast in upholding the Orthodox faith. As a champion of the Council of Chalcedon, he resisted heretical pressures that sought to undermine the Church’s Christological doctrines. He saw the rebuilding of the Holy Sepulchre as not merely a physical act, but a proclamation of the resurrection of Christ and the hope it offers to all believers. 

St. Modestos reposed in peace in AD 634, leaving behind a Church that had been restored in body and soul. His life reminds us that true leadership in the Church is marked by humility, self-sacrifice, and a deep love for God and neighbor. In the Western and Eastern Orthodox traditions, St. Modestos is venerated as a model of pastoral care and as a patron of those who work to restore what is broken. His feast day, December 18th or 23rd, falls within the Advent season, reminding us of the One who came to heal and restore all creation through His incarnation. 

EASTERN TROPARION

O holy shepherd and healer of the Church, 

Thou didst labor tirelessly to restore what was broken, 

Ransoming captives, comforting the sorrowful, 

And rebuilding the holy places of Jerusalem. 

Through thy prayers, O Modestos, 

Preserve us in the true faith, 

That we may glorify Christ, the Great Shepherd of souls. 

WESTERN COLLECT 

O God, who didst raise up thy servant Modestos to heal thy Church in her affliction and to restore thy holy places, grant us the same zeal for thy house and compassion for thy people, that we, being strengthened by his example, may labor for thy glory and the good of thy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.