On this day, June 5 according to the Julian Calendar (June 18 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Venerable Anubius the Confessor, Desert-Dweller of Egypt (4th century).
The Venerable Anubius the Confessor and Desert-Dweller was tortured in the fourth century for confessing the true God, but survived and went out into the desert. There he founded a small brotherhood, where he labored in asceticism together with six monks. Among them was his own brother — the great Pimen (commemorated August 27). Once, robbers raided the skete and the monks took shelter in an abandoned pagan temple, taking upon themselves a vow of silence for one week. Throughout that week, the Venerable Anubius would throw a stone at the face of a pagan idol each morning, and then in the evening would say to it: “I have sinned, forgive me.” At the end of the week, the brethren asked Abba Anubius what his behavior had signified. The elder answered: “The idol did not become angry when I threw stones at it, nor did it grow proud when I asked its forgiveness. So must you also live.”
Three days before his repose, the deeply aged holy man was visited by desert fathers who asked him to recount his life for the edification of Christians. The Venerable Anubius replied that he had done nothing glorious or praiseworthy. But at last, through lengthy and fervent entreaties, the brethren persuaded the humble desert-dweller. According to the Venerable Anubius, from the time that he had confessed Christ before the executioners, his lips had not been defiled by idle words, for he did not wish — after once making a true confession — to speak falsehood. His heart always strove toward God; more than once he had seen the angels standing before the throne of the Lord, and those pleasing to God; he also beheld the eternal blessedness of the righteous in the Kingdom, and the torment of Satan and his followers in the unquenchable fire of hell. On the third day, the Venerable Anubius reposed. His soul was borne up to heaven accompanied by angelic singing.
May the intercessions of the Venerable Anubius the Confessor be with us all.