(ABOUT A.D. 460.)
[Greek Menæa. Authority:--Theodoret, in his Philotheus, c. 27; who
wrote whilst Baradatus was still alive, and from personal knowledge
of him and his manner of life.]
S. Baradatus held so high a position among the solitaries of Syria,
that the Emperor Leo, wishing to know the opinion of the Eastern
Church touching the council of Chalcedon, wrote to him, as well as to
S. Simeon Stylites and S. James the Syrian. All we know of him is
derived from the account left us by Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus, who
calls him the admirable Baradatus, and says that he manifested his
ingenuity in discovering new austerities. Baradatus at first dwelt in
a hut, but afterwards he ascended a rock and built himself a cabin, so
small that he was unable to stand upright in it, and was obliged to
move therein bent nearly double. The joints of the stones were,
moreover, so open that it resembled a cage, and exposed him to the sun
and rain. But Theodosius, patriarch of Antioch, ordered him to leave
this den, and the hermit, at his advice, chose one more commodious. He
spent most of his time in prayer, with his hands raised to heaven. His
clothing was of leather, which covered him so completely that only his
nose and mouth were visible. Theodoret says that his knowledge of
heavenly things and doctrinal perspicuity were very remarkable. His
answer to the Emperor Leo is found appended to the Acts of the Council
of Chalcedon.