Stylanos of Paphlagonia Orthodox Christian Icon Postcard

Stylian of Paphlagonia was born in sometime between AD 400 and 500 in what is now modern Turkey. He distributed his inheritance among the poor and left the city to live in a monastery but then left to live as a hermit in a cave in the wilderness. He prayed and fasting. His holiness was evident to the people of the surrounding area, and they came to listen to his teaching or to be cured through his prayers. Stylian was also known for his love of children. He believed that for a person to be saved, they needed to have their soul like that of a little child. Sometimes, parents would leave their children with him for a period of time in order for them to receive spiritual guidance. Parents would also travel long distances for Stylian to heal their children.