Saint Sampson
the Hospitable was the son of rich and illustrious Roman parents. In his youth
he received an excellent education, he studied the medical arts, and doctored
the sick without charge. After the death of his parents St Sampson generously
distributed alms and set his slaves free, preparing himself to go into the
wilderness.
With this intent in mind he soon journeyed from Rome to the
East. But the Lord directed him onto a different path, that of service to
neighbor, and so St Sampson came to Constantinople. Settling into a small house,
the saint began to take in homeless wanderers, the poor and the sick, and he
attended to them. The Lord blessed the efforts of St Sampson and endowed him
with the power of wonderworking. He healed the sick not only through being a
skilled physician, but also as a bearer of the grace of God. [St. Sampson is numbered with the
Holy Unmercenary Saints.] News of St Sampson
spread abroad. The patriarch heard of his great virtue and ordained him to the
holy priesthood.
It was revealed to the grievously ill Emperor Justinian
(527-565), that he could receive healing only through St Sampson. In praying,
the saint put his hand on the afflicted area, and Justinian was healed. In
gratitude the emperor wanted to reward his healer with silver and gold, but the
saint refused and instead asked Justinian to build a home for the poor and the
sick. The emperor readily fulfilled his request.
St Sampson devoted the
rest of his life to serving his neighbor. He survived into old age and after a
short illness he departed peacefully to the Lord. The saint was buried at the
church of the
holy Martyr Mocius, and many healings were effected at his grave.
His
hospice remained open, and the saint did not cease to care for the
suffering. He appeared twice to a negligent worker of the hospice and upbraided
him for his laziness. At the request of an admirer of St Sampson the hospice was
transformed into a church, and beside it a new edifice was built for the
homeless. During the time of a powerful fire at Constantinople the flames did
not touch the hospice of St Sampson. Through his intercession a heavy rain
quenched the fire.
(http://oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101828)
See also: http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/06/st-sampson-hospitable-founder-of.html.
Troparion - Tone 8
Through your patience, your unceasing prayer, your love for the poor and the help you gave to them, you became worthy of your reward, O holy Sampson. Intercede with Christ God that He may save our souls.
Kontakion - Tone 8
We honor your relics, for you are an excellent physician and powerful intercessor; as we gather to praise you with psalms and hymns, divinely-wise and venerable Sampson, we glorify Christ, who granted you the grace of healing.
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
