In Syria, St. Julian Sabas, the ancient, who by the force of his miracles, re-established the Catholic faith in Antioch, which was almost destroyed there in the time of the Emperor Valens.
The Arians under Valens abusing the authority of this saint’s name, he left his solitude, and coming to Antioch loudly confounded them, and wrought many miracles.
When he had given an ample testimony to the true faith, he returned to his cell, where he instructed a great number of disciples, who edified the Church long after his death.
Saint Chrysostom calls him a wonderful man, and describes the great honour with which he was received living, and his name venerated after his death.
He refused his consent at first, but finally yielded to their solicitations, finding that it was impossible to preserve the bread and vegetables they ate in his cave, where they became mildewed after a night or two.
At the end of three days he heard a voice from Heaven, which said, “Be of good cheer, that vile stinking pig is dead.” Then rejoining his companions, he bade them sing songs of rejoicing to God, who had given victory to the fire-worshiping Persians, and by the overthrow of Julian and the Roman army had dealt a death blow to the empire.
“He is at the bottom of the well,” said the mother, “and we have been so busy getting dinner ready, that we have not had time to pull him out.” Saint Julian at once went to the well, the lid was taken off, and the mischievous urchin, who was amusing himself with paddling in the water and stirring up the mud, was hauled out, and dismissed to dry his clothes, with the blessing of the hermit.
Popular rumour deepened the well from a shallow tank into a profound gulf, and converted a very simple incident into an astounding miracle.
On his way home from Antioch, Saint Julian passed through Cyrus, where the emperor had placed an Arian bishop, named Asterius.
The orthodox implored the assistance of the hermit, and he prayed with such ardour that the bishop fell ill, and died the day after Julian left Cyrus.