Saint Sabbas the Sanctified accepted into one of his monasteries a wealthy noble as a novice. Sadly, being spoiled by his life of abundance, the novice could barely work as hard as other monks, and he could hardly keep the fast as other monks. He would eat different foods that his relatives would bring to him, which was against the rules of the monastery.
The saint wanted to spare the young novice the embarrassment, so, instead of rebuking him, he prayed fervently for him. During the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God the prayer was answered through this vision given to the novice.
He was standing in the church during the evening service, when suddenly he saw a radiant Lady flanked by two angels. One of the angels held a cloth, and the other, a chalice filled with bread. The monks were approaching Her, and, after one of the angels wiped their sweaty faces with a cloth, She would give them a piece of the heavenly bread with a golden spoon.
The young novice also tried to approach Her, but he rejected on account of receiving either the Eucharist or to be touched with the cloth. The Mother of God said to him: “How can you take the Body of My Son when you did not fast? How can the cloth of an angel dry your face when you did not work in the field with the rest of the brethren?”
The novice immediately informed St. Sabbas of the vision. He started fasting and working according to the rule, and was made worthy of a blessed death.
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