Saint Spyridon

Spyridon was born in Assia, in Cyprus. He worked as a shepherd and was known for his great piety. He married and had one daughter, Irene. Upon the death of his wife, Spyridon entered a monastery, and their daughter entered a convent. Spyridon eventually became Bishop of Trimythous, or Tremithous (today called Tremetousia), in Larnaca District. He took part in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325), where he was instrumental in countering the theological arguments of Arius and his followers. He reportedly converted a pagan philosopher to Christianity by using a potsherd to illustrate how one single entity (a piece of pottery; some accounts say it was a brick) could be composed of three unique entities (fire, water, and clay); a metaphor for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. It is said that when he said "in the name of the father" the potsherd miraculously burst into flame, "and of the son" water began to drip on the ground, "and of the holy spirit" and only dust remained in his hand. After the council, Spyridon returned to his diocese in Tremithous. He had earlier fallen into disfavor during the persecutions of Emperor Maximinus Daza, but died peacefully in his old age. Spyridon was popular in Byzantine literature. A poem, now lost, was dedicated to him by his pupil Triphyllius. It inspired two 7th-century vitae, one by Theodore of Paphos () and another possibly by Leontios of Neapolis. The former was used by Symeon the Metaphrast. Arabic and Georgian hagiographies also survive. ==Relics==

In the 650s, when the Arabs took Cyprus, Spyridon's body was disinterred and taken to Constantinople. The relics were found to be incorrupt, and contained a sprig of basil, the "royal plant," both of which were taken as a sign of divine confirmation of his sanctity. When Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453, Spyridon's relics were removed again. This time, they were taken to the island of Corfu by a Corfiote monk called Kalohairetis (Καλοχαιρέτης), where they remain to this day, in Saint Spyridon Church. The relics are taken in procession every Palm Sunday and on other special occasions, for veneration by the faithful. All Philharmonics of Corfu, including the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, take part in these ceremonial events. The relic of his right hand was located in Rome in the Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, to which it was given by Pope Clement VIII to Cardinal Cesare of Baronio of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. There it remained until 1986 when the right arm of Spyridon was brought back to Corfu. == Patronage and miracles ==

Patronage Spyridon is the patron saint of potters and of the island of Corfu where he is called "Αγιος Σπυρίδων ο πολιούχος", "Saint Spyridon, the Keeper of the City", for the miracle of expelling the plague (πανώλη or πανούκλα) from the island. He is also the patron saint of Piraeus where he is celebrated and honored every year on December 12. Corfu It is believed by the faithful that the plague, on its way out of the island, scratched one of the fortification stones of the old citadel (Palaio Frourio) to indicate its fury for being expelled. This scratch is still shown to visitors. showing Saint Spyridon (center, front) silencing Arius (right, with hands over his mouth) during the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325. Spyridon is also believed to have saved the island at the 1716 siege of Corfu. At that time the Turkish army and naval force led by Sultan Ahmed III appeared in Butrint opposite Corfu. On July 8 the Turkish fleet carrying 33,000 men sailed to Corfu from Butrint and established a beachhead in Ipsos the same day the Venetian fleet encountered the Turkish fleet off the channel of Corfu and defeated it in the ensuing naval battle. On July 19 the Turkish army reached the hills of the town and laid siege to the city. After repeated failed attempts and heavy fighting, the Turks were forced to raise the siege which had lasted twenty-two days. There were also rumors spreading among the Turks that some of their soldiers saw Spyridon as a monk threatening them with a lit torch and that helped increase their panic. This victory over the Ottomans, therefore, was attributed not only to the leadership of Count Schulenburg who commanded the stubborn defense of the island against the Ottomans but also to the miraculous intervention of Spyridon. icon of St. Spiridon at Zemen Monastery, Bulgaria. After the victorious outcome of the battle, Venice honored Schulenburg and the Corfiotes for successfully defending the island. The great composer Vivaldi was commissioned to write an oratorio, Juditha triumphans, in celebration of the victory. Feast day Recognizing Spyridon's role in the defense of the island, Venice legislated the annual "Litany of St. Spyridon" on August 11 as a commemoration of the event. His feast day is celebrated in the East on the Saturday before Great Lent (known as "Cheesefare Saturday") and December 12. For those Eastern Churches that follow the traditional Julian Calendar, December 12 falls on December 25 of the modern Gregorian Calendar. In the West he is commemorated on December 14. Other Spyridon is also the patron saint of the Tolstoy family. Andrei Tolstoy (fl. 15th century) chose Spyridon as the family's saint and he remains so in both branches. The Grand Prince of Muscovy Vasily II (1425–1462) apparently gave a gold cross containing relics of the saint to Andrei. This reliquary survives and is held by Nikolai Tolstoy. == References ==