SABA, Saint. – Palestinian monk. The *Synaxarion of Constantinople* and the *Roman Martyrology* commemorate him on December 5.
According to his biographer Cyril of Scythopolis (*Life*, BHG 1608), he was born in Mutalasca near Caesarea in Cappadocia in 430 and died on December 5, 512. As a young man he entered a monastery in his native province. In 456 or 457 he went to Palestine, where he lived as a monk in various monasteries until he obtained permission to live as a hermit. He spent five years among the ruins of a tower at Gebel el-Muntar, then moved to the Valley of Kedron. The growing number of disciples forced him, despite himself, to group them together, to build huts and to adapt natural caves. Thus began the “Great Laura,” which became the most famous in Palestine (478). Sallustius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, ordained Saba and consecrated the monastery church (491). Because of disputes he went into voluntary exile (503–508), during which he founded the “New Laura” at Thecua (508). As archimandrite of Palestine, he twice (512 and 531) intervened at the imperial court, after an unsuccessful letter, to have the chrysargyron (a kind of odious tax) abolished and to defend the faith against the Monophysites. Cyril of Scythopolis hails Saba and his monks as “the strongest bulwark of the Catholic faith in Palestine.” He died at the age of ninety-three.
A “typikon” for the entire liturgical year (a rule, martyrology, and breviary combined) is known under his name. However, as it stands today it cannot date back beyond
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