Few details survive about the life of this remarkable saint. Spyridon’s birthplace was the village of Axia, on the island of Cyprus. The son of humble parents, and himself unassuming, meek, and virtuous, he was a shepherd from childhood. Upon reaching adulthood, he entered into lawful marriage and had children. Generosity defined him; he gave all his means to those in need and to travellers. For this, the Lord rewarded him with the gift of working miracles: he healed the incurably ill and cast out demons. He led a pure and God-pleasing life, emulating David in gentleness, Jacob in heartfelt simplicity, and Abraham in love for wayfarers.
Spyridon became a widower early in life. Entrusting the care of his daughter to the Church community, he embraced monasticism to serve God more fully. Soon, the local people and clergy noticed his wisdom and spiritual gifts, and, by common consent, Spyridon was elected bishop of the Christian community in Trimythous. In episcopal office, the saint did not alter his way of life, combining pastoral ministry with acts of mercy.
In the surroundings of Trimythous
During the reign of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, the First Ecumenical Council convened in Nicaea in 325 AD to condemn the heretic Arius. Champions of Orthodoxy, adorned with life and learning, rallied to the cause. According to Church historians, Saint Spyridon also participated in the proceedings of the First Ecumenical Council. The saint knew only Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2), but the grace dwelling within him proved more beneficial and potent in refuting heretics than the speeches, proofs, and eloquence of many. The Arians knew this and sought to prevent Saint Spyridon from reaching the Council. According to tradition, when the archpastor stopped for the night, the Arians crept into the inn and decapitated the horses on which he was travelling. Discovering this, the hierarch placed the animals’ heads back onto their bodies and turned to God in prayer. The Lord, through the prayer of His saint, resurrected the horses, and Saint Spyridon continued his journey.
However, as darkness had fallen, the holy hierarch mixed up the animals’ heads and put the bay horse’s head on the grey, and the grey’s on the bay. Only at daybreak did the travellers notice the mistake and glorify Almighty God.
Saints Spyridon of Tremithus and Blaise of Sebaste travel to the Council of Nicaea
The Arians, unmoved by the miracle of God, continued to obstruct the holy hierarch: they bribed the shipmasters, and no one in the port would take the Saint to Nicaea. Then Saint Spyridon made the sign of the Cross over the expanse of water, spread his cloak upon the sea, and stepping onto it as onto a raft, sailed, propelled by the power of God, across the waves. The Saint arrived in Nicaea before his adversaries.
The miraculous arrival of Saint Spyridon in Nicaea
Within the Council, the Fathers, led by divine wisdom, articulated the doctrine of the Holy Trinity with clarity and unity. This was not only thanks to the wisdom of the learned theologians among them, but also thanks to the strength of spirit of the God-enlightened Bishop Spyridon. The Council, which included such luminaries of the Church as Saints Nicholas of Myra, Athanasius the Great, Paphnutius of Thebes, and Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, was confronted with a very persuasive “presentation” of the heretical doctrine by the famous philosopher Eulogius. The heretic’s cunning words flowed in an unstoppable, all-crushing torrent, and, although the Fathers were certain of the falsity of this teaching, for a moment it seemed that Arius and his followers would prevail.
Then the Bishop of Trimythous rose from his seat. The other bishops, convinced that he would not be able to counter Eulogius’ polished rhetoric, begged the Saint to remain silent. Nevertheless, Saint Spyridon stepped forward and addressed the assembly: “In the name of Jesus Christ, allow me to speak briefly. Listen, philosopher, to what I will tell you: we believe that Almighty God created from nothing by His Word and Spirit heaven, earth, man, and the entire visible and invisible world. This Word is the Son of God, Who came down to earth for our sins, was born of a Virgin, lived with men, suffered, died for our salvation, and then rose again, redeeming by His sufferings the original sin, and resurrected the human race with Himself. We believe that He is of one Essence and equal to the Father, and we believe this without cunning speculation, for this mystery cannot be comprehended by the human mind.”
Then, having made the sign of the Cross, Saint Spyridon took a clay brick in his right hand and squeezed it: “In the name of the Father!” — and at that moment fire burst forth from the brick. The Saint continued: “And the Son!” — and water flowed down. “And the Holy Spirit!” — and, opening his palm, he showed the dry clay remaining in it, from which the brick had been moulded. “Here are three elements, but the brick is one,” said the Saint, “so also in the Holy Trinity — three Persons, but the Godhead is One.”
The affirmation of the Trinitarian doctrine (In the background: “The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council”, Pec Patriarchate, Kosovo, Serbia. 16th century)
A reverent awe and astonishment swept over the assembly, and Eulogius, shaken to his core, was at first speechless. At last, he replied, “Holy man, I accept your words and acknowledge my error.” Saint Spyridon accompanied the philosopher to the church, where he renounced his heresy. Afterwards, Eulogius confessed the truth before his fellow Arians. The triumph of Orthodoxy was so undeniable that, apart from six of the Arians present, all the others returned to the confession of Orthodoxy…
Upon the conclusion of the Council, following the condemnation and excommunication of Arius, Saint Spyridon returned to Cyprus and carried on fulfilling not only his episcopal duties but also tending his sheep. He never did swap his shepherd’s reed cap for a mitre.
During this time, the Saint’s daughter Irene departed to God; the time of her blossoming youth she had spent in pure maidenhood, in such a manner that she was deemed worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Meanwhile, a woman came to the Saint and tearfully recounted how she had entrusted to Irene certain golden ornaments for safekeeping, and since she had shortly thereafter died, the entrusted items had vanished without a trace. Spyridon searched the entire house, to see if the jewellery was hidden anywhere, but he couldn’t find it. Moved by the woman’s tears, Saint Spyridon, along with his household, approached his daughter’s tomb and, addressing her as if she were alive, cried out:
“My daughter Irene! Where are the ornaments that were entrusted to you for safekeeping?”
Irene, as if awakened from a deep slumber, replied: “My lord and father! I hid them in this spot in the house.” And she indicated the place.
Then the Saint said to her: “Now sleep, my daughter, until the Lord awakens you at the time of the general resurrection.”
Saint Spyridon’s daughter Irene answers the saint from the grave, a detail from a hagiographic icon
Fear gripped all those present at the sight of such a miracle. The saint found the hidden items in the indicated place and returned them to the woman.
The saint cared for his flock with immense love. Through his prayer, drought was replaced by abundant life-giving rain, and incessant rains — by fair weather; the sick were healed, demons were cast out.
One day, a woman came to Spyridon with a dead child in her arms, pleading for his intercession. Having prayed, he restored the infant to life. The mother, overcome with joy, collapsed lifeless. But the prayer of God’s holy servant brought life back to her as well.
Once, hurrying to rescue his friend, falsely accused and sentenced to death, the Saint was stopped on his way by a stream that had suddenly overflowed its banks due to a flood. The Saint commanded the torrent: “Halt! Thus commands you the Lord of all the world, that I may cross and the man for whom I hasten may be saved.” His will was fulfilled, and he safely crossed to the other side. The judge, forewarned of the miracle that had occurred, greeted Saint Spyridon with honour and released his friend.
Another well-known incident from the Saint’s life recounts a miraculous event: he once entered an empty church, commanded that the lampadas and candles be lit, and commenced the Divine Liturgy. Having proclaimed “Peace to all”, he and the deacon heard in response from above a multitude of voices proclaiming, “And to your spirit”. This choir was sweeter than any human singing, and at each litany it sang “Lord, have mercy”. Drawn by the singing emanating from the church, people nearby hurried towards it. As they approached, the wondrous singing increasingly filled their ears and delighted their hearts. But when they entered the church, they saw no one but the bishop with a few church attendants, and no longer heard the heavenly singing, which left them utterly astonished.
Saint Spyridon of Tremithus, hagiographic icon
Saint Symeon Metaphrastes, the chronicler of Saint Spyridon’s life, likened him to the Patriarch Abraham in the virtue of hospitality. “One must also know how he welcomed strangers,” wrote Sozomen, who was close to monastic circles, citing in his “Ecclesiastical History” a remarkable example from the Saint’s life. One day, after the onset of Great Lent, a traveller knocked on his door. Seeing the visitor’s exhaustion, Saint Spyridon said to his daughter, “Wash this man’s feet and offer him something to eat.” But because of the fast, no necessary provisions had been made, for the Saint “partook of food only on a specific day, and on other days remained without food.” Therefore, his daughter replied that there was neither bread nor flour in the house. Then Saint Spyridon, apologizing to the guest, ordered his daughter to roast some salted pork that was in store and, seating the stranger at the table, began the meal, urging the man to follow suit. When the latter, calling himself a Christian, hesitated, the Saint did not argue, remarking, “The Word of God has declared: ‘To the pure all things are pure’ (Titus 1:15).”
The saint also had a habit of distributing one part of the harvested crops to the poor and lending the other to those in need. He himself did not personally give anything, but simply pointed to the entrance to the storehouse, where everyone could take as much as they needed, and then return it in the same way, without checks or accounts.
There is also a well-known story by Socrates Scholasticus about how thieves decided to steal Saint Spyridon’s sheep: late at night they climbed into the sheepfold, but were immediately bound by an unseen force. When morning came, the saint came to the flock and, seeing the bound robbers, prayed, untied them, and for a long time persuaded them to abandon their lawless path and begin to earn their living by honest labour. Then, giving the thieves a sheep each and letting them go, he kindly said, “May you not have stayed awake in vain.”
The bishop’s humility was pure and profound. One day he was summoned to the imperial palace. A guard, mistaking him for a beggar in his simple, worn-out clothes, struck him on the face. But the bishop immediately offered him the other cheek. When the guard realized his mistake, recognizing the bishop, he fell to his knees, pleading for mercy. Saint Spyridon, with a heart full of compassion, forgave him without a second thought.
Saint Spyridon is often identified with the Prophet Elijah: through his prayers, during droughts, which frequently threatened Cyprus, rain would also fall.
Saint Spyridon destroys idols in Alexandria (fresco in the Church of St. Spyridon of Tremithus, Samara, Russia)
The Saint’s entire life is striking in its amazing simplicity and the power of wonderworking bestowed upon him by the Lord. At the Saint’s word, the dead were awakened, the elements were tamed, and idols were shattered. When a Council was convened in Alexandria by the Patriarch for the purpose of destroying idols and pagan temples, through the prayers of the Council Fathers all the idols fell, except for one, the most renowned. It was revealed to the Patriarch in a vision that this idol was left in order for Saint Spyridon of Trimythous to shatter it. Summoned by the Council, the Saint boarded a ship, and at the moment when the vessel reached the shore and the Saint stepped onto the land, the idol in Alexandria, along with all its altars, crumbled to dust, thereby announcing to the Patriarch and all the bishops the approach of Saint Spyridon.
Saint Spyridon lived his earthly life in righteousness and holiness. Until his last days, he remained active, despite his advanced years: for instance, he would reap alongside the harvesters, wishing to assist them. One day, as he was helping the villagers, his head was suddenly bathed in moisture. Moreover, “the hair on his head suddenly changed: some turned yellow, others black, others white, and only God Himself knew why this was and what it foreshadowed…” The Saint himself began to prepare for his departure. A few days later, in prayer, he surrendered his soul to the Lord (this occurred around 348 AD).
Reliquary with the relics of Saint Spyridon in the church dedicated to him, Corfu, Greece
In 1456, the Saint’s relics were brought to the island of Corfu, and in 1596 they were placed in the church dedicated to him, where they remain to this day. They are completely incorrupt and maintain the temperature of a living human body — 36.6 degrees. The saint’s shoes, on the body within the shrine, regularly wear out and have to be replaced with new ones. The Greeks believe that even after his death, the saint tirelessly walks among those in need, helping them and protecting them from harm. Separately, in a special ark, lies the Saint’s right hand, which remained in Rome until 1984 and was then returned to the Greeks.
Solemn processions with the relics of Saint Spyridon take place in Corfu four times a year: on Palm Sunday, Holy Saturday, 11 August, and the first Sunday of November. They were established in memory of the miraculous deliverance of the island’s inhabitants, through the Saint's intercession, from various calamities — bubonic plague, famine, and the Turkish invasion.
During feast days, the glass-covered sarcophagus containing the relics of Saint Spyridon is removed from its silver reliquary and placed in a vertical position. Then, four clergymen carry the sarcophagus with the Saint’s relics on a stretcher under a special gold-woven canopy. The holy relics are preceded by hierarchs, clergy of all ranks, a choir, military brass bands, and candle-bearers in ceremonial vestments, holding candles with a diameter of over 15 centimetres. These are carried in special harnesses slung over their shoulders.
Procession with the relics of St. Spyridon (Kerkyra, Corfu)
The sound of church bells floats over the city, accompanied by marches played by brass bands and church hymns. People stand in dense rows on both sides of the street. Along the route, there are stops for the reading of the Gospel, litanies, and kneeling prayers. Closer to the church, many people hoping to receive healing step into the middle of the road ahead of the procession and lie on their backs, face up, placing their children beside them, so that the incorrupt relics of Saint Spyridon in the ark are carried over them.
In Russia, Saint Spyridon has been venerated since ancient times and is often depicted on icons alongside Saint Nicholas of Myra. 25 December, the Saint’s feast day, was called “Spyridon’s Turn”, because from this time “the sun turns towards spring”, and daylight hours gradually begin to lengthen. The saint was especially revered in Novgorod and Moscow, where one of the oldest churches dedicated to him dates back to 1627. A street in Moscow was also named after the saint: Spiridonovka.
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Orthodox Christians today, who turn to this wondrous helper with countless prayers and petitions, which he is very quick to answer.
Prayer to Saint Spyridon
O Great and marvelous Saint of Christ, glory of Corfu and radiant light of all the world, warm intercessor to God, and swift helper and protector of all who flee to you and pray to you with faith! You gloriously upheld the Orthodox faith at the Council of Nicaea among the Fathers; you demonstrated the unity of the Holy Trinity by miraculous power and put the heretics to shame. Entreat the Compassionate Lord, our Lover of Mankind, our God, that He may not condemn us according to our iniquities, but that He may deal with us according to His mercy! Deliver all who come to God with unwavering faith from all mental and physical afflictions, from all troubles and from the Devil’s snares! Intercede for all who seek your powerful help in obtaining all things beneficial for their salvation! May we, together with you, glorify God, Who is glorified in the Holy Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prepared by the team of obitel-minsk.ru
Photographs from the internet
The following materials were used in preparation:
1. The Relics of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous on the Island of Corfu (bangkokbook.ru)
2.
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous, the Wonderworker of Cyprus. Hagiographic
Sources of the 4th–10th Centuries. St. Petersburg University Press,
2008.
3. Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous. His Life, Labours, and Miracles, Recounted from Greek Manuscripts (azbyka.ru)
4. Spyridon of Trimythous: The Homeland of Saint Spyridon of Tremithus (xngtblacaaihsiehkqfinnftv.xnp1ai)
5.
Evlogite! Bless!: A Guide to the Holy Places of Greece / Nun Nektaria
(McLees); translated from English by Inna Belova. – Moscow: Russian
Pilgrim, 2007.
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