Seridus of Gaza (died ca. 543 AD) (also Abba Serid) was a Palestinian abbot of a monastery that was later named after him. He was disciple of the hermits

Barsanuphius Barsanuphius ( gr, Βαρσανούφιος, Barsanouphios, it, Barsonofio, Barsanofrio, Barsanorio; died c. 545), also known as Barsanuphius of Palestine or Barsanuphius of Gaza, was a Christian hermit and writer of the sixth century. Born in ...

and

John the Prophet John the Prophet, known also as Venerable John, was the hermit of the monastery of Seridus and teacher of Dorotheus of Gaza.Barnasuphius and John ''Letters'', translated by John Chryssavgis Catholic University of America Press (2002) Life He pr ...

and is venerated as saint by the

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via ...

13 August Events Pre-1600 * 29 BC – Octavian holds the first of three consecutive triumphs in Rome to celebrate the victory over the Dalmatian tribes. * 523 – John I becomes the new Pope after the death of Pope Hormisdas. * 554 – Em ...

Biography

Not much is known about Seridus early life. When the hermit

came to live in a hilly region of Thabata, he inspired many people to come to live an ascetic life there as well, possibly including Seridus. Seridus was an extreme ascetic and nearly died due to his practices before he was healed by Barsanuphius who then became his

spiritual director Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of their encounters of the di ...

. Barsanuphius considered Seridus his true son and led through him the nearby monastic community as whose abbot Seridus acted.

Abbot

The monastery was located close to Thabatha and the Besor Stream, thus not far away from the older Saint Hilarion Monastery which was the first monastery in Gaza. Seridus' monastery functioned in the typical manner of Gazan monasticism: a coenobium that supported surrounding hermit cells. Under the abbacy of Seridus, the monastery was expanded on a neighbouring plot that the community had bought with the community's funds and whose owner at first refused but could be convinced with Seridus' persuasion and diplomatic skills. On this land a new church, a

xenodochium In the early Middle Ages, a xenodochium or (from Ancient Greek , or ''xenodocheion''; place for strangers, inn, guesthouse) was either a hostel or hospital, usually specifically for foreigners or pilgrims, although the term could refer to charita ...

, workshops and an infirmary or hospital were built. Many visitors came because of these facilities but primarily due to the presence of Barsanuphius and

, who had moved to the region on the invitation of Barsanuphius between 525-527 and for whom Seridus also had a cell erected. Seridus also became the only person allowed to communicate with Barsanuphius and acted as an intermediary for those who wished to receive council and spiritual direction from the hermit known as the "Old Man". The council was transmitted in letter form and recorded in Greek as Seridos did not know

Coptic Coptic may refer to: Afro-Asia * Copts, an ethnoreligious group mainly in the area of modern Egypt but also in Sudan and Libya * Coptic language, a Northern Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Egypt until at least the 17th century * Coptic alphabet ...

. The combined letters of Barsanuphius and John amount to more than 850 and were compiled later, possibly by

Dorotheus of Gaza Dorotheus of Gaza ( grc-gre, Δωρόθεος τῆς Γάζης ''Dorotheos tes Gazes''; 505 – 565 or 620,) or Abba Dorotheus, was a Christianity, Christian monk and abbot. Life He joined the monastery Abba Serid (or Abba Sveridus) near Gaza C ...

who served for some time as letter bearer to John. According to this editor, Seredius had a charismatic yet patient and tolerant personality and was able to compromise. Though there were occasional complaints of monks against Seridus, there was never a collective bitterness against him.

Death and Successor

Feeling his end near, Seridus ordained that the next abbot should pass to one of the monks he ranked on a list. Once Seridus died around the year 543, all monks on the list refused and the lowest ranked, a lay person named Aelianus who was not a monk yet, was elected only once John urged him to accept the choice.

Legacy

Seridus is venerated as saint by the

. Συναξαριστής.
13 Αυγούστου
'' ECCLESIA.GR. (H ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ). The saint

Vitalis of Gaza Saint Vitalis of Gaza (died ) was a hermit venerated as a saint in the Oriental Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. He is the patron saint of prostitutes and day-laborers. Life A monk of Gaza, Vitalis travell ...

was also monk at the monastery of Seridus before the 7th century.

References

{{reflist 5th-century births 543 deaths 5th-century Christian monks Desert Fathers Palestinian Christian clergy