My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
On the 12th of December Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
our holy and God-bearing Father, SPYRIDON the Wonderworker,
Bishop of Trimythous in Cyprus.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Hierarch. First Tone
Thou was shown forth as a champion of the First Council and a
Wonderworker, O Spyridon, our God-bearing Father. Wherefore,
thou didst speak unto one dead in the grave, and didst change
a serpent to gold. And while chanting thy holy prayers, thou hadst
Angels serving with thee, O most sacred one. Glory to Him that
hath glorified thee. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory
to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.
Kontakion Hymn of the Hierarch. Second Tone
Pierced through with the love of Christ, O sacred Spyridon, thou
gavest thy mind divine wings with the Spirit’s light; in the active
vision of God were all thy labours, O inspired of God, whereby
thou becamest the Lord’s divine altar, asking Divine Light for all.
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Saint Spyridon, our holy Father among the Saints, the boast of the inhabited world, and the adornment of the faithful, flourished during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 A.D.). He hailed from the famous island of Cyprus. The Saint’s virtue and divine conduct were such that his accomplishments shone forth brightly throughout the inhabited world, leaving no adult Christian who is not acquainted with his life. This is the same God-bearing Father who had taken part in the First Ecumenical Synod (325 A.D.). Who has not heard of his renowned demonstration at Nicaea? But his participation at that First Synod of the Church shall be triumphantly recounted further on.
Our great Father Spyridon from his youth was simple, open, unpretending, and humble. He always kept as models, worthy of emulation, the blessed Prophet David for meekness, Jacob for being natural and unaffected, and Abraham for his hospitality. He was in the habit of distributing his goods and expanding his means on the poor. On account of his virtue and generosity, he inherited an imperishable land, one that was blessed and perpetual, in accordance with the unfailing promise of the Lord Who said, “BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH” [Matthew 5:5], and “BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY SHALL FIND MERCY” [Matthew 5:7]. By means of transitory wealth, which he held in contempt during his lifetime, he now receives for unending ages the incorruptible treasure, that is, the Christ, the Pearl of Great Price. He was also enriched by a river of miracles, which were energized in him at all times and places, and from which he was never drained.
Holy Spyridon was sanctified from his mother’s womb and was born in Askia, Cyprus. From his youth he was adorned with all the virtues, and loved true simplicity and serenity. Though the holy man started out as a shepherd of sheep, yet he was neither rustic in character and disposition nor one uncommunicative. Indeed, he diligently conducted his life in an orderly manner. He attended to the needs of the indigent and strangers with such mercy and compassion that he received all with love into his home. He could be seen washing their cut and stricken feet, readying a table, and making himself useful in whatever they needed. All was conducted with such humility, even reverence, as a faithful servant might conduct himself before his superiors. Together with his modesty of spirit, prudence, and sobriety, he also exhibited a manly mildness and gentleness with the rest of the virtues.
According to the sacred canons, he was lawfully wedded to an honorable and prudent woman whom he begat children. After her premature death, he continued to comport himself in a venerable and temperate manner. He did not go about seeking pleasure and the desires of the flesh, but instead continued laboring in every virtue. He applied himself conscientiously to the study of the law of God, which further implanted in his soul a love for his fellow man, together with moderation, tolerance, and fairness. Consequently, he came to be a true icon and archetype of virtue, having all the virtues exactly impressed in himself, to such a degree that very few can imitate his grace-filled practices and good will.
Thus, with such lifelong deeds, the holy man shone forth, so that he was accounted worthy of manifold rich gifts from God, which are able to reveal to us his glory and majesty in the heavens. He cured diverse sicknesses, including but not limited to restoring light to the blind and dispelling evil spirits. He also wrought miracles worthy of astonishment, with the Divine power of grace which he had helped and working together with him, so that he became the excellent shepherd of the faithful. God took him from a flock as He did David, and appointed him over rational sheep as their eminent shepherd, full of the teachings of the Apostles, who nurtured the flock in the meadow of faith and piety. When the Great Constantine became Emperor of the Christians, Spyridon the Wonderworker of Trimythous, a notable city on the seacoast near Salamis of Cyprus, was universally revealed. His attainment of virtue before his elevation to the Episcopacy is clearly evinced by the miracles which he performed.
The First Ecumenical Synod
When the Great Constantine reigned, he convened the First Ecumenical Synod in 325 A.D. The major Sees of the Eastern Empire were well represented. The anti-Arians included many holy Fathers adorned with Apostolic gifts. Among them were Spyridon of Trimythous of Cyprus, Nicholas of Myra, Athanasios the twenty-five-year old Deacon and secretary of Alexander of Alexandria. There were also present men who survived the sufferings of martyrdom: Paul of Neo-Caesarea, who lost the use of his hands from torture, and the half-blind Paphnutios of Egypt.
While the Saint was on his way to the Synod with a party of other bishops, he spent the night at a particular inn. Some spiteful Arian heretics learned of his arrival and sent their servants to sever the heads of the mules of Spyridon and his Deacon. After this had been done, the Deacon discovered the crime before dawn. The holy man was not discomfited. He bade the Deacon to place the severed heads back upon the bodies. Forthwith, they grew together and the animals revived and stood up. When the sun rose, it was only then discovered what mistake had occurred in the dark. The brown mule now had a white head, and the white mule had a brown head. The Arian heretics saw this and were awestruck.
Let us now return to the Great Synod. The universally accepted tradition of the Church states that 318 members comprised this holy Synod. The Synod was assembled against Arius the heretic who kept spreading his blasphemy saying that the Son and Logos/Word of God was not coessential (homoousios) with the Father. Thus, Arius was declaring that Jesus is NOT true God but a creature (ktisma, a Greek word meaning anything that is built. THIS SYNOD ALSO DECLARED THE COMPUTATION OF THE PASCHAL (EASTER) DATE BY ORDERING THIS FEAST OF FEASTS TO BE CELEBRATED ON THE SUNDAY AFTER THE FULL MOON FOLLOWING THE VERNAL EQUINOX. The First Ecumenical Synod produces the Symbol of Faith (Creed) and a synodical letter excommunicating the odious Arius and defining the incarnate Logos/Word as COESSENTIAL.
In the midst of this company of luminaries was the humble-minded Spyridon, whose indwelling of the Holy Spirit and virtue-empowered him to surpass the worldly philosophers who were given imperial permission to attend. Saint Spyridon, great in virtue and simple, or should we say singular, in learning, borne about and filled full of the All-Holy Spirit, took up A ROOF TILE IN HIS HANDS AND WENT ON SPEAKING: “One is God Who made the heaven and the earth, the Creator of all things…We know Him to be coessential with the Father, coequal in dignity, honor, and glory. The Holy Trinity, though ONE IN ESSENCE, is TRI-HYPOSTATIC, THREE PERSONS, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How is it possible to put the open sea into the smallest jar? Even so the mind of man cannot contain the boundless sea of the incomprehensible Divinity. That thou mightest be assured of the truth of these things, attend to this small and common roof-tile. Though it is not proper that we should liken the Uncreated and Superessential Nature with this created and perishable creation, nevertheless, the eyes are deemed more credible witnesses to us than our ears. For all those of little faith, such as thyself and others who do not believe easily unless they see with their bodily eyes, I shall demonstrate before your very eyes the Truth with this here clay tile, which is compounded of THREE ELEMENTS THOUGH IT IS ONE IN ESSENCE AND NATURE.
After the Saint, inflamed with love for the Trinity, made the sign of the Honorable Cross with his right hand, while holding the tile in his left hand, he pronounced: “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,” and instantly–lo, they Wonders, O Christ our King!–THE FIRE WHICH HAD BAKED THE TILE FLARED UPWARD. THEN HE SAID, “AND OF THE SON,” AND AT ONCE, THE WATER WHEREWITH IT HAD BEEN MIXED RAN DOWN. IMMEDIATELY, FOLLOWING, HE SAID, “AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,” AND HE OPENED HIS HAND IN WHICH ONLY THE CLAY FROM WHICH IT WAS MADE REMAINED. This miracle was witnessed with astonishment by all, especially the philosopher, who was awestruck to the depths of his soul and fell silent. Thus the Saint put to shame the disputers reputed to be wise.
The holy Synod therefore declared its decision and the heretics were disregarded. The pious were both gladdened and amazed by the Wonderworking wrought by Saint Spyridon. Thereupon they were giving thanks to our Lord and Savior, having the Saint in great regard; not only the people and the Hierarchs marveled and honored him but the Emperor to a considerable degree. He besought the Saint to always entreat God on his behalf. Since the Synodical sessions had finished Saint Spyridon went directly to his See and homeland. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
(To be continued)
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“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 