TESTING THE PROPHETIC SERIES
The Monk Valens
In the 5th century, a man named Palladius wrote the story of Valens, a monastic from Palestine. Valens was a well regarded monastic whose fervor for discipline had won him favor in the church. The story of is Valens’ is of his slow descent into pride.
““By virtue of the great hardship that he endured, he attained to the highest measure of ascesis but fell into pride, being so deluded by the demons that he thought angels were conversing with him and ministering to his every need.” ”
While Valens is weaving a basket at night, he lost the needle with which he was working. A light appeared to him that enabled him to find his missing item. This experience served as the doorway for pride to work its devastating effects. He began to see himself as more highly favored by God than the others around him.
A little while later, Macarius the Great sent a gift of fruit that had been given to him to the dwelling place of the surrounding brothers. When the one who was distributing the fruit arrived at the abode of Valens, Valens chastised him with a message to give back to Macarius:
““Tell Makarios, ‘I am not your inferior, that you should send me gifts!’””
Macarius was concerned for the spiritual well-being of Valens, but Valens paid no heed to Macarius’ entreaties to humble himself. The final straw came when Valens had a vision of what he assumed was Christ:
““When the Devil was assured that Valens was completely obedient to him, he disguised himself as the Savior and visited Valens by night in a vision, accompanied by torch-bearing demons holding a fiery disc, in the middle of which was portrayed the form of the Savior. One of the demons that preceded him said to Valens: ”Christ loves you for the purity and conduct of your life, and He has come to see you; go out of your cell, and when you see Him standing in the distance, bow down and worship Him.” When Valens came out of his cell, he beheld this array of torch bearing demons and the Antichrist (disguised as the Savior) about some distance away. He fell down and worshipped him.””
The delusion of pride was complete. Valens considered himself the superior to everyone in his community and refused to fellowship with his brothers. He went so far as to deny the need for the sacrament of communion, announcing to the fathers his intention to forgo the Eucharist.
““I have no need of Holy Communion, for today I have seen Christ.””
What did those who carried responsibility for the soul of Valens do? They bound him with chains and interceded for him for one year:
““The Fathers then took him and bound him with iron chains for a year. Destroying his conceit by their unceasing prayers for him, by the inactivity which they assigned to him, and by making him lead a more restricted life, they cured him. For opposites are cured by opposites; for example, pride with disdain or insults.””
The chains of pride were chastened by the chains of iron and Valens was humbled. He was restored as a respected member of the monastic community.