Our Venerable and God-bearing Father '''David of Euboea''', also '''David the Elder''' ({{el icon}}: Ὁ Ὅσιος Δαβὶδ ὁ ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ), ca.1480 - ca.1589, is a Saint and [[Wonderworker]] of Ottoman Greece. His [[feast day]] is celebrated by the [[Orthodox Church]] on [[November 1]].

The Monastery of Saint David in [[w:Euboea|Euboea]], which is dedicated to the [[Transfiguration]] of the Savior, and yet is associated with Saint David who founded it about 1535-1540 AD and lived his monastic life there in the 16th century, celebrates on [[August 6]]th as well as on [[November 1]]st. Within the church are the [[relics]] of Saint David, his [[censer]], his priestly [[Epitrachelion|stole]], and other treasures.

On the sixth day, which was Saturday, David's father went with some villagers to that chapel to serve the [[Vespers]] and [[Prayer|pray]] to the Saint for his child. When they arrived, they were surprised to see little David on his knees in front of the icon of Saint John. His face was glowing with a celestial light , and he didn't look at all haggard. Then they all understood that this child was not like the other children, he was special.

The obedience of Saint David to the Elder, his spiritual father, was great. The following incident depicts this obedience in the most vivid way. One day , Elder Akakios sent David from Nafpaktos to Arta for some work. It was a journey of four days by foot. Saint David was walking barefoot, as was usual for him, through difficult and wild paths. When he arrived outside the city of Arta, he stopped for a while to rest. A charitable Christian saw him and immediately bought a pair of ''tsarouhia'' (traditional Greek footwear) and gave them to the fatigued monk. The humble Saint David, who did not want to offend this kind and devout man, accepted and wore them. After finishing the work that the Elder had assigned to him, the Saint returned to Nafpaktos. When the Bishop saw him wearing new shoes, he reprimanded him for accepting the offer of the Christian without first having received his blessing. He ordered Saint David to remove the shoes from his feet and return them to the person who gave them to him. Saint David, obeying his Elder, returned barefoot to Arta, found the Christian, and after giving him back the ''tsarouhia'', returned once again to Nafpaktos.

The goodness of Saint David and his spiritual progress were obvious to everybody. The Bishop bishop and the lords of the area kindly requested, and finally persuaded, the Saint to become the [[Hegumen]] of the Monastery of the Holy [[Mother of God]] in Varnakova. This position was difficult, because he had to deal all the dedicate much time dealing with the problems caused by the restive monks of the monastery.

The Lord led him to Mount [[Luke of Steiris|Steiris]], in the area of Domvou. There he continued his ascetic struggle, accompanied by father Father Seraphim, who was also his spiritual child.

Nevertheless, the hateful devil found and took the opportunity to attack the Saint once more. He was accused by local people as the one responsible for the escape of some slaves of a [[Islam|Hagarene]] lord from Livadia. For this reason, they arrested Saint David, imprisoned him and tortured him brutally. Saint David suffered everything with patience. However, by the Providence of the Lord, some devout Christians appeared and paid the money to release ransom for the Saint's release. When the Saint was released, he thought that it would not be good to return to his monastery. After some time, which he spent wandering in that area, without being able to find an appropriate place to rest, he decided to go to the island opposite, that is Euboea.

While he was on the coast of Atalanti, he saw a man with a boat and asked him kindly to take him to the island. The man saw the humble monk with the worn robe; he refused to transfer him and continued his work indifferently. Saint David, without being upset by the man's behavior, went some meters away, removed his worn robe, laid it on the water and after making the sign of the cross, stepped on his robe and started sailing quickly through the waves. The man, surprised, saw the Saint on his robe sailing and leaving the coast behind him. He then understood that this monk was a [[Saint]] and he started shouting and begging... ''"Come father, come father with my boat. Come father...'' ". Saint David blessed him from afar and continued his journey.

With his robe , he arrived at the village of Rovies. When he stepped on the shore, he began climbing the green mountain, which rose behind the village. He found there the almost ruined [[chapel]] of the [[Transfiguration]] of [[Jesus Christ]] our Savior, which he totally reconstructed, assisted by the local people.

When Saint David arrived at the monastery, he saw that the craftsmen had not observed his instructions and instead of building the new monastery on the top of the mountain, they had started building it near the chapel of the [[Transfiguration]]. Saint David became upset. He asked them why they had disobeyed , and they answered that on the top of the mountain, where he wanted the new monastery to be built, there was no water.

Once, the lords and bishops of the Peloponnese invited him to resolve the problems and the divisions between them. Saint David began his journey with love and eagerness. Although the ship on which he was traveling encountered heavy seas and was wrecked, Saint David was rescued through a miracle and nine hours after the shipwreck , the accompanying monks saw him floating on the sea, unscathed.

At one time, Saint David was going to Karystos on some business of the Monastery. On the road, he stopped at the village of Disto to rest himself. There, the residents of the village asked the Saint to release them from the swarm of mosquitoes, from which they were suffering. The Saint seeing Seeing their devotion, the saint prayed fervently to the Lord and then a great miracle happened. Mosquito clouds started to fall and disappear into the sea, in front of the surprised eyes of the locals.

When Saint David grew old , he appointed another [[hegumen]] and withdrew to his retreat, which was a tiny cave formed by a complex of rocks in the forest. He stayed there in prayer during the whole week, eating only a piece of [[Antidoron]] and drinking only some [[holy water]].

When Saint David became even older, he foresaw his death in a divine revelation. Then he called the fathers of the monastery and announced to them that in three days he would pass away. With fatherly love, he advised the monks accordingly. Shortly before rendering his holy soul into the hands of the Lord , he said... '', "Behold, my brothers, the Lord Jesus Christ is coming!'' " The monks of the monastery were desolate. With deep sadness and tears, they buried his body.

The [[miracle]]s of Saint David have been numerous during the centuries, as have been the believers, who have become witnesses of his glory before the Lord's throne. People with physical, psychic psychological and spiritual diseases are freed from the burden of their ailments by leaning down to venerate his holy skull. They depart healed and they thank the Saint, praising God.