Sergius Savvait, reverend

Saints John, Sergius, Patrick and others, slain in the monastery of Saint Sava. In the 8th century, the vicinity of Jerusalem was subject to frequent attacks by the Saracen nomads. On the sixth week of Great Lent, the Saracens suddenly burst into the Lavra of the Monk Sava the Sanctified at night and demanded that all valuables be given to them. The monastery, however, had nothing but a meager supply of food and shabby clothing. Having received such an answer, the Saracens began to kill the monks of the Lavra, hitting them with arrows from their bows. Thirteen people were killed and many were injured. The Saracens set fire to the monastic cells and intended to set fire to the temple, but seeing in the distance many people and deciding that this was an army sent from Jerusalem, they hastened to leave.