SAINT LAZAROS OF MOUNT GALESION – HEAVENLY MAN OR EARTHLY ANGEL

Abstract

During the thousand years of Christianity, the institution of monasticism interacted with the other Byzantine institutions, being absorbed into the societal life. In the eleventh century, ordinary Byzantines or of the aristocratic class still recognized the superiority of monasticism as a model to follow for achieving the ideal of salvation. What attracted, producing admiration, was the asceticism of the monks along with the benefits that flowed from it for the people. At the same time, the more extraordinary asceticisms were, the more they became the target of criticism. First of all, they were aroused by the misunderstanding of the extraordinary power of a man to control his bodily urges so that the soul would free itself from the bondage of passions. Secondly, the asceticism of some highlighted neglect in the case of others, clerics or even monks, who were too much preocupied with material interests. Saint Lazaros, as a monk, ascetic stylite, confessor, founder of monasteries, is an emblematic saint for the eleventh century, his life written and lived describing in detail all these struggles and human dilemmas. His asceticism fits perfectly between the two reference axes of the Orthodox system of holiness: heavenly man and earthly angel. 1