Venerable (Monastic) 4th century

Venerable Onesimus the Wonderworker of Magnesia

4th century

Also known as Onesimus of Magnesia

A monk born at Caesarea who founded a monastery at Magnesia and was glorified by God with the gift of wonders.

Feast Day
July 14
Draft
Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.
Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Onesimus the Wonderworker of Magnesia

Life

Onesimus, known as the Wonderworker of Magnesia, was a monastic saint of the early Byzantine period. According to the surviving record, he was born at Caesarea in Palestine at the beginning of the fourth century and entered upon the monastic life at a monastery in Ephesus before founding his own community at Magnesia, where he remained for the rest of his life.

He is remembered chiefly as a wonderworker, the tradition crediting him with many miracles. The historical record preserved in English sources is brief, and few particulars of his ascetic labors or the circumstances of his repose survive. He is commemorated on July 14, and should not be confused with the Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide
  1. early 4th century Birth at Caesarea in Palestine Onesimus was born at Caesarea in Palestine at the beginning of the fourth century.
  2. 4th century Monastic life at Ephesus He entered a monastery in Ephesus, taking up the monastic life.
  3. 4th century Foundation of the monastery at Magnesia He later founded a monastery at Magnesia and remained there for the rest of his life, becoming associated with that place in the Church's commemoration.

Contributions & Legacy

1 contributions Read Hide

Veneration

Onesimus is venerated as a venerable monastic father and wonderworker, his feast kept on July 14. The hymnography appointed for his commemoration addresses him as a holy father whose ascetic discipline and yearning for God were accompanied by a reputation for working miracles. Beyond this commemorative tradition, the surviving sources record little of his life in detail.

Notes

Not the Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy (OS-0662).

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints