Day of Remembrance of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt, Wonderworker (25/12)

Saint Spyridon of Trimiphunta (Salamis), a miracle worker, was born in the late 3rd century on the island of Cyprus. From childhood, Spyridon herded sheep, with a clean and godly life, imitated the Old Testament righteous: David — in meekness, Jacob — in heartfelt kindness, Abraham — in love for wanderers.

In adulthood, Saint Spyridon became the father of the family. Extraordinary goodwill and spiritual responsiveness attracted many to him: the homeless found shelter in his house, wanderers — food and rest. For his incessant memory of God and good deeds, the Lord endowed the future saint with grace-filled gifts: insight, healing the incurable sick and casting out demons.

After the death of his wife, during the reign of Constantine the Great (324 - 337) and his son Constantius (337 - 361), Spyridon was elected bishop of the city of Trimiphunta. In his person, the flock acquired a loving father. During the long drought and famine in Cyprus, according to the prayer of St. Spyridon, it rained and the disaster stopped. The saint's kindness was combined with fair severity towards unworthy people. Through his prayer, the unmerciful bread merchant was punished, and the poor villagers were freed from hunger and poverty.

Saint Spyridon performed many miracles. One day, during a service, oil burned out in a lamp, and it began to fade away. The saint was upset, but the Lord consoled him: the lamp was wonderfully filled with oil. There is a known case when angels invisibly concelebrated Saint Spyridon, and after each litany the singing of angels was heard: «Lord, have mercy». The saint healed the seriously ill Emperor Constantius, talked with his deceased daughter Irina, already prepared for burial, revived the deceased child with the grace of God, and then his mother, who fell lifelessly at the sight of a miracle.

Seeing the secret sins of people, the saint called them to repentance and correction. Those who did not heed the voice of conscience and the words of the saint suffered the punishment of God.

As a bishop, Saint Spyridon showed his flock an example of a virtuous life and hard work: shepherding sheep and removing bread. He was extremely concerned about strict adherence to church rank and the preservation of the Holy Scriptures in all its integrity. The saint strictly denounced priests who inaccurately used the words of the Gospel and other inspired books in their sermons.

The Lord revealed to the saint the approach of his death. The saint's last words were about love for God and neighbors. Around 348, during prayer, Saint Spyridon reposed himself with the Lord. They buried him in the temple in honor of the holy apostles in the city of Trimifunte. In the mid-7th century, the relics of the saint were transferred to Constantinople, and in 1453 — to the island of Kerkyra in the Ionian Sea (Greek: name of the island — Corfu).

Here, in the city of the same name Kerkyra (the main city of the island), the holy relics of St. Spyridon in the temple named after him are still preserved. Five times a year, a solemn celebration of the memory of St. Spyridon is held on the island.

Saint Spyridon of Trimifunta has been revered in Rus' since ancient times. «Sun turn», or «turn of the sun for summer» (December 25 of the new style), coinciding with the memory of the saint, was called in Rus' «Spiridon turn». Saint Spyridon enjoyed special veneration in ancient Novgorod and Moscow. In 1633, a temple was erected in Moscow in the name of the saint.

In the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of the Word (1629) there are two revered icons of St. Spyridon with a particle of his holy relics.

411