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.
The Life of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker (Part II)
The Repose of the Saint’s Daughter
When the Saint arrived in Cyprus, he found that his daughter Irene had reposed. She was a virgin who had never known a man, and she had kept her virginity inviolate so that she might present it to her heavenly Bridegroom Christ. The bereaved holy man endured this affliction courageously, as one sensible and prudent. A few days after Irene was interred, a tearful woman approached the Saint and excitedly said, "I entrusted to thy late daughter’s care certain articles, that is, expensive gold jewelry. But her repose came so quickly thereafter that I did not have the opportunity to inquire where she deposited them."
Now Irene, for greater security, had buried the articles. The Saint carefully and diligently searched his entire house, but he was unable to find the jewelry. The Saint then went to the tomb of his daughter, followed by some other persons. Then, as though Irene were still alive, he began asking her, "Irene, my child, where didst thou put the woman’s gold jewelry?" The dead answered with a lively voice and disclosed a certain place. "That is where I have hidden the articles, my father." All those who clearly heard Irene were filled with dread and terror at that prodigious miracle. The Saint, as though he were master of life and death, spoke again to his girl, saying, "Be sleeping, child, until the Lord should raise thee at the universal resurrection." The Saint then went to the spot disclosed by his daughter and found the gold jewelry. This furnished further proof of that phenomenal miracle.
The Saint Resurrects Mother and Child
After the Saint left the palace, a certain Christ-loving man wished to offer the Saint hospitality in his home. While he was there, a certain barbarian woman, who could not speak Greek, entered. She bore in her arms a dead infant whom she laid at the feet of the Saint. Tears welled up in her and flowed abundantly, as she was making signs and gestures to the Saint that he would resurrect her child. The Saint went down to his knees and poured forth tears that moistened the floor below, entreating with faith the Merciful Physician to resurrect the child of the distressed mother and to show her to be "enjoying herself over children" (Psalm 112:9).
The Saint kept on praying. Then, even as the Lord of old hearkened to Elias in the case of the widow Sarepta, here also did He hearken to Spyridon and raised the formerly dead child in a wondrous manner. The child began crying for food and for his mother. Great art Thou, O Lord, and wondrous are Thy works! When the mother beheld her beloved child alive, she breathed her last on account of this unsurpassed miracle and her immeasurable joy. Deacon Artemidoros besought the great Spyridon not to leave them all sorrowing, but to do for the mother what he did for the child. The bishop then turned to the dead mother and said, "In the name of the Lord, rise." She straightway rose up, as though from sleep, and took the child into her embrace. The holy man then ordered both the woman and his Deacon not to reveal this miracle to anyone. The Deacon, as long as the Saint was in this life, kept silent; however, upon the bishop’s repose, he published it everywhere, deeming it a loss and injury to the lovers of God should he keep silent, in respect to such a prodigious Wonder.
The Miraculously Filling Church Lamp
On another occasion, as the Saint was chanting Vespers, the lamp was about to be extinguished, which would interrupt the divine office. He stood there grieved as he looked at the waning lamp. Straightway, an invisible power filled the lamp with oil to overflowing, so that some spilled on the floor. Consequently, the church servers brought in jar after jar, and the jars were being filled by the overflowing oil. Thus with the miraculous filling of many vessels, even as it happened in ancient times for the widow by Prophet Eliseos, the abundance of grace that dwelt in the holy bishop was made manifest.
Choir Responses from on High
On another occasion, the holy man entered the church in order to conduct Vespers. He joyfully entered the sanctuary and took his place in order to celebrate the divine service. There was, however, no one present to give the responses. The Deacon was busy lighting the lamps. Though no congregation was present, except for a few souls, yet from on high invisible voices could be heard. It sounded like a choir of ten thousand voices that answered the bishop’s intonation of "Peace be to all," with "And with thy spirit." The sound was most sweet and harmonious and did not resemble human voices in the least; for an unseen multitude of Angelic hosts served with him. When the Deacon finished his prayer and litanies, he was ecstatic and filled with fear; for he kept hearing–O the Wonder!–a divinely sounding and sweet repetition of "Kyrie Eleison." The sound of this divine choir could be heard outside the church. Those who lived nearby, hearing the melodic chanting, hastened to the church. When they entered and observed only the bishop, the Deacon, and a few other souls, they were astonished. They kept saying that they could hear elegant and harmonious chanting, which was emanating. There was none present whom they could see chanting such harmonious music. Marvelling at this miracle, they kept giving glory to God Who glorifies His slaves.
The Saint Deals with Animal Thieves
The Saint kept a flock of goats and sheep, from which he provided for the needs of the poor in his Diocese. Even during his incumbency of the bishopric, his meek manner of life was unaltered. He continued to be unacquisitive and bear all slights for the sake of love. He did not deem it shame to engage in physical labor and care for his flock of dumb sheep.
One night, some thieves broke into the pen. The All-Good Lord, however, as a diligent and watchful Shepherd, cared for these irrational sheep. God therefore determined to preserve His servant’s flock. The moment the thieves entered the service area of the farm, which contained the sheep, straightway their hands and feet were invisibly fettered and chained. They were divinely stricken on the spot. It was impossible for them to move, so they were compelled to stand in their places for the entire night, having their hands behind them, as those condemned. In the morning, the Saint observed them in their stationary positions and pitied their condition. There was no need for him to ask, "How came you here?" Their criminal project had been divinely impeached. Then He entreated God on their behalf and thus they were liberated from those bonds. The bishop then said to them, "My children, no longer engage in these acts, lest you should suffer punishment. Earn your daily bread with your own labor." After counseling them in a fatherly manner to support themselves by honest labor, he acquitted them of all their conduct and put on a happy countenance. Hoping to induce them to lead a better life, he made them a gift of two rams, saying with mildly disparaging good humor that it was for their exertion in keeping an all-night vigil–even if it were involuntary–and that they should not return empty handed form his sheepfold.
The Saint Works on His Farm
Toward the close of Saint Spyridon’s life, during harvest time, he, as one humble-minded, worked alongside his laborers in the field. One time, when it was very hot and not a cloud was in the sky, there fell from above a delicate drizzle upon the holy man, so as to cool his head. This did not take place for anyone else present, but the others noticed the phenomenon. Christ, the Heavenly Cultivator, wished not only to bedew that excellent head but also to gather in His animate fruit; that is, the time of Spyridon’s earthly sojourn was drawing near to an end. Now when the Saint laid his right hand on his sacred head and showed the bystanders the dew, it was observed that he suddenly generated hairs on his head that were both blonde and black, "I," says the Greek compiler, "know not the significance of this sign." The Saint, however, understood and said to those present, "Know that in a little while my soul shall be separated from the body; for the All-Good God wishes to honor me with much glory upon my repose. Countless crowds of people shall celebrate that day with a great festival." Thus, the dew of heaven that came down upon his head prefigured the future, for God would glorify His servant’s sacred memory and relics, and sanctify the faithful by his intercessions.
The holy man then uttered other prophecies. He also exhorted and admonished those present that they should keep the Commandments of the Lord; but he mostly emphasized that they ought to preserve love for God and neighbor.
The Saint’s Repose
Then, on the 12th of December, in the year of our Lord 348 A.D., Saint Spyridon gave his soul into the hands of God. He was seventy-eight years old. He bequeathed his sacred relics to the island of his birth, as a consolation for the faithful and as a fountain of healings. Upon his repose and up to the present day, his boldness before the Lord is even greater than when he was alive, as he has been shown to be a wellspring of miracles. The Wondeworkings have not ceased. Each one is extraordinary and worth telling. To this day, the Great Spyridon delivers from perils–famine, flood, fire, and deadly plague–those who have recourse to him with piety and faith. His miracles have been attested to by people down through the ages and in different lands. He has indisputably shown himself a comforter and physician, a defender and helper of orphans, and widows, a protector of infants, a guide to travelers, and a dispeller of demons.
Saint Spyridon’s presence has especially been felt on the island of Kerkyra (Corfu), where his sacred and august relics are now found. More than sixteen centuries have passed, and he has remained unravaged, being entirely incorrupt. As the exemplar of bishops, the unshakeable support of the Orthodox Faith, and the model of piety, he has proved mightier than the laws of nature. At first the sacred relics of the heavenly man and earthly angel were in the earth for many years, during which time they wrought on an inexhaustible stream of miracles. He remained at Trimythous until the middle of the 7th century on account of barbarian raids. It then pleased God that the relics should be translated to Constantinople. The Saint was discovered to be whole and incorrupt, by the grace of Christ, and his skin was intact and supple. The Capital City received the holy relics as a precious treasure. A divine office was conducted, attended by the imperial couple. A special service was composed, together with a doxastikon using the eight modes of Byzantine Music.
The Translation of the Saint’s Relics
Upon the conquest–worthy of tears– of Constantinople on Tuesday morning, the 29th day of May, in the year 1453, by the Islamic forces, a certain priest, Father George Kalohairetes, took up the sacred relics of Saint Spyridon and bore them away to Kerkyra, lest the Turks should destroy the treasure. The holy relics were placed in a small church for safekeeping. Countless cures and Wonderworkings continued to be performed, for which the little church could not accommodate such crowds. A larger church was built with the gifts people offered in thanksgiving,and for dedication. to Saint Spyridon. [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]
____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 