Venerable Theoctistus, Abbot at Cucomo in Sicily

Theoctistus founded the monastery of St Nicholas at Cucumo, today Caccamo near Palermo in Sicily, and was its first abbot. He lived in the second half of the eighth century, when Sicily was still ruled from Constantinople and the Iconoclast controversy divided the Byzantine world. According to the tradition, Greek monks who had fled the persecution by the Iconoclast emperors found a place in his monastery. He died in peace about the year 800.