The life of St Modestus I of Jerusalem
Modestus, who had narrowly escaped the Persian advance while away seeking troops to defend the city, was chosen to govern the shattered patriarchate in the absent Zacharias's place.
For the years that followed, with the help of Patriarch John the Merciful of Alexandria, Modestus set about the long work of recovery: burying the monks slain at the monastery of Saint Sabbas, and rebuilding the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the other ruined churches of the city. When the emperor Heraclius at last defeated the Persians and recovered the True Cross along with Patriarch Zacharias in 628, Zacharias returned home but died not long after. Modestus was then chosen to succeed him as patriarch in his own right, serving until his own death a short time later. He was buried in the Church of the Eleona on the Mount of Olives, remembered for having rebuilt a city he found in ruins.
