THE LIFE OF ABBA LEONTIOS THE CILICIAN
Some fathers told us about Abba Leontios the Cilician, who served devotedly on the staff of the New Church of our Lady Mary, the Holy Mother of God. For about forty years, he never came out of that church; he was always deep in thought and always kept his own counsel.
They also told us this about him: if he saw an indigent coming towards him, and if it was a blind man, he would give him something into his hand. But if it were one who could see, Abba Leontios would put the coins before the man, perhaps on the base of a column, on a seat, or maybe on the sanctuary steps, and the poor man would take them from there himself.
When an elder asked why he did not give the coins into the hand of a beggar, he answered: “Forgive me, father, but it is not I who gives. It is my lady, the Mother of God, who provides for both me and for them.”