Venerable (Monastic) 6th century

David of Hermopolis

sixth century

Also known as David the former robber

A robber-chief in Egypt who repented utterly and became a monk of great holiness (6th c.)

Feast Day

September 6

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father David of Hermopolis

Life

David of Hermopolis was an Egyptian monk of the sixth century who, before his conversion, had been the leader of a band of robbers in the wilderness near Hermopolis. The synaxarion records that he had committed many murders and other crimes during his years as a bandit. His life is remembered chiefly as an account of extreme repentance, in which a man guilty of grave sins came to a monastery, embraced the ascetic life, and was held to have attained great holiness.

As he grew old, David reflected on his past and was seized with fear at his crimes. Abandoning his gang, he came to a monastery seeking to repent, but the abbot at first refused to admit him, judging the severity of monastic life beyond his strength. David then revealed that he was the notorious robber of that name and warned that, if rejected, he would return to his former life and come back to plunder the monastery and kill the monks. On this the abbot received him into the community.

Against all expectation, David proved an excellent monk, and the tradition relates that he surpassed the rest of the brethren in his asceticism. He lived in the monastery for many years and reposed in peace in the sixth century. He is commemorated on September 6.

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Repentance and Monastic Life

The defining episode of David's life as the synaxarion preserves it is the announcement of his forgiveness. After he had become a devoted monk, the Archangel Gabriel is said to have appeared to him to declare that the Lord had forgiven his sins. David, in his humility, doubted that such grave offenses could be pardoned so quickly. As a consequence of this doubt the accounts relate that he was made speechless, though he retained the ability to pray and to take part in the services of the church.

In his later years David was held to have received the gift of miracles. The sources record that he healed many of the sick and cast out evil spirits. He died after many years of monastic struggle and is numbered among the venerable fathers.

Sources: Synaxarion