Saint Euphrosynos | The Patron Saint of Cooks
Saint Euphrosynos, the patron saint of cooks, stands as a courageous example of how devotion, humility, and faith can transform even the simplest task into a means of expressing holiness. His story highlights the importance of maintaining humility and dedication along our path, regardless of the personal choices each of us makes.
In a way, he reminds us that faith and devotion can turn our everyday lives into a pure source of sanctity.
Entering Paradise Through Cooking
Many saints throughout the centuries have attained the Kingdom of God by dedicating their entire lives to monasticism with love and faith. There are countless examples of saints who earned eternal life not only through prayer and prayer ropes, but also by cooking in large pots, washing pans, and peeling potatoes and onions in the monastery kitchens throughout their monastic journey.
Saint Euphrosynos is one such example. He devoted his whole life to the faith of the Lord as a cook, and according to folk tradition, he is considered the patron saint of all cooks.
The Life of the Saint
Saint Euphrosynos grew up in great poverty in a rural family and remained illiterate throughout his life. From a young age, he chose to leave behind worldly life in order to serve the monastic way of being, departing for a monastery where he was tonsured a monk.
During his time at the monastery, the other monks would constantly mock him—both for his lack of education and for his humble position in the kitchen—yet he always endured everything with humility, never losing his faith or hope. There were even occasions when they scorned his cooking skills, accusing him of not preparing food properly.
The Priest's Vision and the Miraculous Apples
At the monastery, there lived a priest who, for many years, through prayers and fasting, asked God to reveal the blessings prepared for those who love Him. After some time, one night, the priest had a vision in his sleep: he saw Euphrosynos in the Garden of God offering him three apples.
When he awoke, he was astonished to find the apples in his robe. He immediately shared the miracle with the other monks, who, changing their opinion of Euphrosynos, glorified God. When they later searched for Euphrosynos, he had vanished without anyone noticing, choosing to avoid any personal glory; it is said he never returned to that monastery again.
According to the saint's life, the three apples were miraculous: those who tasted and ate the divine fruit were healed and cured of their ailments.
The Dormition
Monk Euphrosynos passed away peacefully in a hermitage. The Orthodox Church recognizes him as a saint and commemorates his memory every year on September 11th.
The Moral Lesson of the Saint
The life of Saint Euphrosynos reveals the purity of a soul toward others and his own humility in choosing to dedicate himself to God and enter eternal life. These lessons offer meaningful parallels for the life of a modern cook. Humility, respect, and devotion can guide a chef's growth, helping them reach their goals through persistence, patience, and relentless hard work—work that becomes a form of prayer.
Above all, it teaches the importance of remembering one's roots. No matter how far a cook rises in their culinary journey, they should never forget where and how they started—the difficult first steps, the initial shifts, the tears from criticism, and the tears from peeling onions. These experiences cultivate kindness of heart and understanding, keeping the soul aligned with the teachings of the Lord.
