THE LIFE OF ABBA NONNOS THE PRIEST
At the community of our saintly father Theodosios, Abba Theodosios, who subsequently became bishop of Capitolias, told us about Abba Nonnos. "One night," he said, "before the wooden signal was struck for the night office, I was lying in my bunk and I heard someone saying, 'Lord, have mercy,' in a humble, quiet voice. After counting five hundred repetitions of 'Lord, have mercy,' I wanted to know who it was that was speaking. I looked towards the church from the window of my cell and saw the elder down on his knees. There was a bright star above his head, showing me which elder it was."
Another elder of the same community told us about the same Abba Nonnos: "One night, before the striking of the wooden signal, I left my cell and went to the church. I saw the elder standing before the church with his hands stretched out to heaven in prayer. His hands shone like lamps of fire; I withdrew in fear."