People go and go
The right hand of St. Spyridon of Trimythous is in Moscow until October 15.
We asked Muscovites why they turn to the saint in prayer. The answer to this question is a good barometer. It shows how we live, what is important to us, in what we do not rely on our own strengths and, of course, whether we have faith.
It’s like that missing chicken about which the woman asked the Optina elder, and who remarked to the grimacing snob: “But this chicken has her whole life in it!”
Until October 15, the right hand of St. Spyridon is in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. This is not the first time a shrine has been brought to Russia. In April 2007, Patriarch Alexy II met her in the same Cathedral of Christ the Savior. And you seem to remember that time as if it were yesterday, but it feels like it was a hundred years ago and in another country.
People are walking and queuing again. That’s where we went, but in addition, we also just talked with Muscovites on the street, as well as with the sisters at the Central Clinical Hospital of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow. They were also planning to go to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. So we got a range of opinions from both parishioners and parishioners, both non-church and churchgoers. I must say, they are not very different.
The icons of a kind old man in a wicker shepherd's cap are immediately recognizable. You will see them everywhere: at the old lady’s in the icon corner and in the corner of the pavilion at the construction market, in the MFC, in the hairdresser, on the Bentley dashboard.
It so happened that in Russia Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is considered the patron saint of entrepreneurs and the best specialist in real estate matters.
However, people pray to the saint not only about business or an apartment. Saint Spyridon became a close and beloved saint for many.
It’s a paradox: many people know about him simply as an assistant, but they haven’t read his life. The troparion and akathist are read, but not the life. Well, just as they know St. Nicholas of Myra and Blessed Matrona of Moscow. We asked people, and most often the answers about the life of the saint were very approximate. A bishop in Cyprus, relics in Corfu, a contemporary of St. Nicholas... But in life there are so many examples that can be close to modern man!
Spyridon of Trimifuntsky was elected bishop for kindness
What do they ask the saint for and how does he help?
- Saint Spyridon of Trimythous helps non-believers to gain faith and doubters to be strengthened. They pray to him for loved ones who have left the church, especially for lost children. After all, it was this saint who stopped the debate about the unity of the Holy Trinity by showing a miracle: he took a brick in his hand and squeezed it in his palm, and it divided into water, clay and fire;
- Unjustly accused people pray to Spyridon of Trimythous. Even during his lifetime, the saint was a champion of justice: once a friend of Spyridon was sentenced to execution on an unjust charge, and the saint was in a hurry to testify to his innocence at trial. But the river on Spyridon’s path overflowed, and he could not meet the deadline. Then the Bishop of Trimifuntsky turned to God with fervent prayer, and the water in the river parted. The saint crossed to the other side and saved the unjustly accused from death;
- The saint is an assistant in solving the “housing issue,” which is extremely important in our country. If they want to sell, buy, rent or rent out housing, or build a house, they turn to the saint. And they receive help in the most seemingly hopeless situations;
- what do girls pray to Saint Spyridon of Trimythous for - of course, for a happy marriage, and they also receive what they ask for;
- Bishop Spiridon is the heavenly patron of peasants and especially shepherds, since he himself was a simple shepherd;
- in solving financial problems, Saint Spyridon is a helper to believers; they ask him: “pray to the merciful God, may He not condemn us for our sins, but may He deal with us according to His mercy.” Indeed, during his life, the Trimyphuntian saint gave away his property, everything he had;
- the saint helps in finding a job. Of course, we must remember about piety - if the work is connected with deceiving one’s neighbor, such a prayer will only condemn the person asking;
- The saint helps the sick, including those with serious illnesses and those whom doctors have declared hopeless. There are numerous cases of healing through the intercession of the saint, and the first miracle was the healing of Emperor Constantius;
- They pray to Saint Trimythous for an end to the long drought, because even during his lifetime miracles happened through his prayer;
- You can turn to the saint for a variety of needs, the most important thing is to turn to him with faith and prayer: “St. Father Spyridon, pray to God for us.”
Sometimes people ask the saint for help to win the lottery. The Orthodox Church states unequivocally on this matter: the lottery is a type of gambling, because in it everything is decided only by chance. The clergy ask parishioners to abandon such undertakings and remember the words of the Lord spoken to Adam: “By the sweat of your face you will eat bread” (Gen. 3, 19)
An Unusual Answer to Prayer
Parishioners at the solemn ceremony of welcoming the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, brought to Russia from the Greek island of Corfu, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Photo: Sergey Pyatakov / RIA Novosti The Life of St. Spyridon, compiled on the basis of the notes of his disciple Trifilius, paints us an image of a reluctant miracle worker, a kind, simple and just shepherd and shepherd. He was widowed early and raised his daughter alone. A simple shepherd, he was elected bishop of the Cypriot town of Trimifunt. He made friends with his pagan neighbors, and they, under the influence of his kindness, converted to Christianity. He prepared meat for the pilgrims during Lent.
His daughter Irina took the jewelry for safekeeping and died, he was asked about the pledge, and the saint resurrected his daughter to ask where the treasure was hidden. Saint Spyridon met a pagan woman with a dead child and resurrected him. The woman also died from shock. Then he resurrected her too.
But he also made it so that the warehouses of the merchant, who filled them with grain in order to profit during a crop failure, were destroyed. Hungry people collected this scattered grain. The Trimifuntsky saint did not boast of miracles, but asked God to take away the gift of miracles from him.
True, sometimes the help of St. Spyridon can be quite extreme, and the main thing here is to believe and not give up when there are difficulties at first, so that later everything will be resolved in the best way... There are examples of this in life, and I remember one recent incident in a Russian convent. The nuns lived there in cramped conditions and various inconveniences.
They prayed to Saint Spyridon to help them with their housing issue. And soon the monastery burned down.
The sisters, of course, were shocked, but in the end everything turned out well. They took pity on the burnt victims, donated money, and they were able to rebuild as they wanted. If it were not for the drama with the fire, but simply for the poor monastery to raise funds for repairs, it is far from a fact that they would have collected the necessary amount.
Akathist to Spiridon of Trimifuntsky read for 40 days
Kontakion 1
Glorified by the Lord to Saint and miracle worker Spyridon! Now we celebrate your all-honorable memory, as we are able to greatly help us in Christ who glorified you, we cry out to you touchingly: deliver us from all troubles and evils, and with thanksgiving we call to you: Rejoice, Spyridon, wonderful miracle worker!
Ikos 1
From youth, adorned with all the virtues, imitating the Angel in your life, you, Saint Spyridon, truly appeared to be a friend of Christ; We, seeing you, a heavenly man and an earthly angel, with reverence and touching cry to you:
Rejoice, O mind, contemplating the mysteries of the Holy Trinity; Rejoice, being enriched by the Spirit with the most radiant illumination. Rejoice, many-bright lamp; Rejoice, your mind is enlightened by dispassion. Rejoice, having loved true simplicity and silence from childhood; Rejoice, ornament of chastity. Rejoice, inexhaustible stream of love; Rejoice, for you imitated Abraham’s love of homosexuality. Rejoice, for you lovingly opened the entrances of your house to everyone; Rejoice, representative of the poor. Rejoice, people revere him; Rejoice, for you are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, Spiridon, wonderful miracle worker!
Kontakion 2
Seeing the island of Cyprus and all the Christian countries, your incorruptible relics, O saint, abundant healing flows from them, rejoicing; and we, honoring you as an abundant source of grace sent down to us from Above, cry out to the Supreme Giver of Heavenly and earthly blessings: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having the Divine Mind, even if you are a shepherd of the wordless sheep, you were chosen by the will of the Chief Shepherd Christ to be the shepherd of the verbal sheep. The faithful one, understanding you as a good shepherd, vigilantly caring for your flock, sang:
Rejoice, bishop of the Most High God, who at your consecration abundantly received Divine grace; Rejoice, many-bright lamp, burn and shine. Rejoice, faithful worker in the city of Christ; Rejoice, shepherd, who raised his flock in the pasture of faith and piety. Rejoice, enlightening the world with the radiance of your virtues; Rejoice, you who offer the Divine Sacrifice to the Throne of Christ. Rejoice, hierarch, adorned with the understanding of Orthodoxy; Rejoice, filled with the apostolic teaching, infusing the faithful with streams of saving teaching. Rejoice, for you have illuminated the wise too; Rejoice, for you have renewed even the simple hearts. Rejoice, glory to the Orthodox and to the Church, unshakable affirmation; Rejoice, adornment of the fathers, glory and praise of the reverent priests. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 3
By the power of the Most High, which overshadowed you, you appeared to Saint Spyridon to be God-wise, and, squeezing the clay in your hands, you clearly understood the trinity of Persons to everyone: even so, the false wisdom of the philosophers who gathered at the Council were horrified, but glorified God with the faith of the incomprehensible, who made you wise for salvation, crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having you in their thoughts, all the fathers of the Council are simple, unskilled in book teaching, praying to you, Father Spyridon, not to quarrel with the ancients, who imagine themselves to be wise. But you, O saint, inflamed with zeal for God, believing that the preaching of Christ is not in the transcendental wisdom of human words, but in the manifestation of the spirit and power, you have exposed him with wisdom, enlightened him and guided him on the true path. Everyone who saw this miracle cried out:
Rejoice, light of Orthodox wisdom; Rejoice, for you have put to shame those who were said to be wise interrogators. Rejoice, source of abundant grace; Rejoice, unshakable pillar, firmly supporting those who are in the faith. Rejoice, darkening the all-pernicious heresy; Rejoice, madness has been trampled under foot. Rejoice, for the dust of the earth has left the Holy Trinity in your hands; Rejoice, for you brought forth fire and water from clay to confirm the dogma of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, for you have enlightened people to glorify the Word, truly consubstantial with the Eternal Father; Rejoice, for you have defeated the serpentine head of the destructive Aryan heresies. Rejoice, for you have sacrificed malice; Rejoice, thou who converted the unfaithful sage and interrogator to the true faith. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 4
Living your life in squalor and poverty, you were a nourisher and helper to the poor and poor, and, for the sake of love for the poor, you turned the serpent into gold and gave it to those who needed your help. Marveling at this miracle, we cry out to God in gratitude: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
It was heard by everyone and everywhere that Saint Spyridon is truly the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity: for God the Father, God the Word and God the Holy Spirit dwell in him. For this reason, you preached in words and deeds the incarnate true God to all Christians, crying:
Rejoice, more mysterious are the words of God; Rejoice, having understood the economy of God for the salvation of the world. Rejoice, for you taught us not to test what is beyond human reason and wisdom; Rejoice, you who have revealed the incomprehensible power of God operating in you. Rejoice, for God Himself has spoken through your lips; Rejoice, for I will listen to you all for sweetness. Rejoice, you who have dispersed the darkness of idolatry; Rejoice, for you have led many to the true faith. Rejoice, for you have struck down the heads of the invisible serpents; Rejoice, for through you the Christian faith is glorified. Rejoice, for you illuminate with light all those who please you; Rejoice, champion of the Christian faith and Orthodoxy. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 5
You were filled with the Divine Spirit, Saint Spyridon, for the sake of your virtuous life; You were meek, merciful, pure in heart, patient, unforgettable, a lover of strangers: for this reason the Creator showed you in miracles. We, glorifying God, who glorified you, cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
We see the equal angel of Spyridon, the great wonderworker. The country once suffered greatly from lack of rain and drought: there was famine and plague, and many people died, but through the prayers of the saint rain came down from heaven to earth; The people, having been delivered from the disaster, cried out in gratitude:
Rejoice, you have become like the great prophet Elijah; Rejoice, for the rain, which takes away hunger and illness, brought down good times. Rejoice, having once again closed heaven with your prayers; Rejoice, for you punished the unmerciful merchant with deprivation of his property. Rejoice, for you have abundantly given food to those who need it; Rejoice, for you strive for the love of God towards people. Rejoice, take away the infirmities of the weak; Rejoice, God-gracious helper of man. Rejoice, give health to the sick; Rejoice, for whom the demons tremble. Rejoice, source of countless miracles. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 6
The veil of the Old Testament tabernacle covered the Holy of Holies with the ark, manna and tablets. And your temple, to Saint Spyridon, has your reliquary, like an ark, your holy relics, like manna, your heart, like the tablets of Divine grace, on which we see the song inscribed: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The people of Cyprus were once punished by the Lord with the barrenness of the land for the increase of lawlessness, when a well-known farmer came to Saint Spyridon, asking for help, and gave him holy gold; Having passed the disaster, that farmer returned the gold again, And - about a miracle - the serpent became gold. Glorifying God, who is wonderful in His saints, we cry:
Rejoice, for you imitated Moses, who miraculously transferred the rod into the serpent; Rejoice, O loving shepherd, delivering the verbal sheep of your flock from troubles. Rejoice, richly enriching everyone with all blessings; Rejoice, as Elijah, who nourished the poor. Rejoice, turn the unmerciful to mercy; Rejoice, venerable example of love for people living in the world. Rejoice, consolation for the faithful and the unfaithful in troubles; Rejoice, hay-leaved tree, overshadowing the city and the country. Rejoice, glory and praise to the Corcyraeans; Rejoice, you have dominion over moisture and dryness, heat and cold, by the grace of God. Rejoice, changing the rules of the earth through prayer; Rejoice, you who are to come, as if you are the present, you who have foreseen. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 7
You appeared as an intercessor before the Lord for everyone, Saint Spyridon. For this reason, we also come running under your roof, seeking salvation, for we are all imams who help you in all your needs, during times of famine, deadly plagues and in all times of troubles and temptations. For this reason, we cry out to God with gratitude: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
We see a new miracle and it is magnificent; When you, father, were marching to deliver an innocent man condemned to death, a stormy stream blocked your path; You, in the name of Almighty God, commanded him to stand and you and your companions walked across the river, as if on dry land. The glory of this miracle spread everywhere, and everyone glorified God, crying out to you:
Rejoice, for sometimes Joshua walked across the Jordan river on dry ground; Rejoice, river aspiration taming with your voice. Rejoice, for you have undertaken a difficult path, driven by mercy; Rejoice, for you have destroyed slander and delivered the innocent from the bonds of prison and vain death. Rejoice, hastening life according to God; Rejoice, protector of the innocently oppressed. Rejoice, changer of the statutes of the watery nature; Rejoice, for you taught the judge and saved him from murder. Rejoice, true correction of souls; Rejoice, wondrous power, holding back the streams. Rejoice, you who delight the hearts of people who come to you; Rejoice, imitator of Abraham's love for mankind. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 8
You were a wanderer and a stranger on earth, like other people. Moreover, from the womb of the mother, the Omniscient One showed you the great saint and wonderworker, Saint Spyridon: you cast out demons, you healed every disease and ulcer, you saw the thoughts of people, and thus you appeared marvelous among the saints. We, sending up prayer to God, the Benefactor of all, cry out to him: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
The whole world will tremble with horror when it hears how death, at your voice, returns its dead from their graves, and cry out:
Rejoice, your deceased daughter, may she reveal the treasure entrusted to her, calling to life; Rejoice, sorrowful widow, who gave gold to save her, comforting. Rejoice, you who raised the dead from the dead; Rejoice, like his mother, who suddenly died of joy, has come to life. Rejoice, for you have become like Elijah, who restored life to the son of Sarepta’s wife through prayers; Rejoice, for you also imitated Elisha, who aroused the youth from death. Rejoice, shepherd, who sincerely loves people; Rejoice, harlot wife, who washed your nose with tears, and forgave your sins in the name of God. Rejoice, you who have acquired the holy zeal of the Supreme Apostle; Rejoice, as an unrepentant sinner, according to your verb, you will die in serious illness. Rejoice, having obtained fruitfulness from the earth through your prayers; Rejoice, immutable assurance of the resurrection of men. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 9
You were illuminated by the Divine Spirit, Saint Spyridon, you had the spirit of wisdom, as you filled the fools with wise words and among the fathers you established the faith, the spirit of reason, as you illuminated the darkened minds; the spirit of the fear of God, because by making you pleasing to God you have purified your soul. Moreover, having presented yourself to the Throne of the Most High, you sing to Him with a host of Angels: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Receiving the rod of the shepherd of verbal sheep from the Chief Shepherd of the Lord Jesus, Saint Spyridon did not change his life: non-covetous, meek, enduring everything for the sake of love, not being ashamed to care for the flock of wordless sheep. All this excites us to glorify God and cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who despise the glory of this world as if it were vain; Rejoice, thou who hast gained much in Heaven. Rejoice, red one of this world, imputed to the minds; Rejoice, vessel of heavenly blessings. Rejoice, most holy pasture of the Cypriots; Rejoice, for for your sake God is the predator of your sheep with invisible bonds. Rejoice, having taught fatherly admonition; Rejoice, by your mercy you gave them the night of the ram spent without sleep. Rejoice, by the disobedience of a goat, as if the mind of a possessor, a merchant who hid his price, denounced; Rejoice, having brought the one who hid your silver coins to repentance. Rejoice, for with your admonition you healed the passions of greed. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 10
Saving the souls of the flock, entrusted to you by God, you, Saint Spyridon, by the will of God, were called to show your glory, especially the glory of the true God, and to other countries, so that everywhere they glorify the name of God, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
A quick helper and intercessor in all needs and sorrows, Saint Spyridon, at the command of the Tsar, like other shepherds, came to the city of Antioch, where Tsar Constantine was overcome by illness; Saint I will touch his head and make him healthy. Marveling at this miracle, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, whose angel in a dream vision appeared to the king like a healer; Rejoice, Divine Ones who, for the sake of love, have accepted the difficult path in old age. Rejoice, the king's servant, who struck you on the cheek, according to the commandment of the Savior, substituted another; Rejoice, pillar of humility. Rejoice, having granted health to the Tsar through your prayers; Rejoice, for through your humiliation you taught the servant and changed his unmerciful disposition. Rejoice, for you taught the king piety and mercy; Rejoice, for you hated earthly treasures, you rejected the king’s gold. Rejoice, for you turned your disciple Trifillia away from addiction to earthly goods and made him a vessel of God’s grace; Rejoice, for I have come to you in Alexandria with the idols of the fallen. Rejoice, even demons obey him; Rejoice, for you have turned many away from idolatry. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 11
There was an angelic singing when you offered Thy evening prayers to St. Spyridon in the temple, and those who served with you were not mad. The inhabitants of the city, having heard the wondrous singing, entered the temple and, seeing no one, sang with the powers of the Mountains: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The luminous sun of the world, you were the interlocutor of the Angels on earth, Saint Spyridon; Having betrayed your spirit into the hand of God, you moved into a mountain village, praying for peace before the Throne of the Lord. But we who live on earth cry out to you:
Rejoice, for I am still alive, co-servant of the Angel; Rejoice, hearing the psalmody of the Archangels. Rejoice, visible image of our transfiguration; Rejoice, for if I lacked oil in the temple, God for your sake fill the lamp with abundance. Rejoice, lamp of Divine radiance; Rejoice, vessel of God's grace, richly like the oil that fills your soul. Rejoice, inexhaustible source, ever flowing currents of grace to everyone; Rejoice, the Angels are amazed at him. Rejoice, you punished the deacon's audition in the temple; Rejoice, you who were vainglorious with your voice and lost your voice and tongue. Rejoice, for during the heat, dew suddenly descended from above, your sacred head of coolness; Rejoice, in this sign you foresaw the nearness of your repose. Rejoice, Spyridone, wonderful miracle worker.
Kontakion 12
The cover and refuge of all the faithful who came to you even in your life, you, O saint, did not leave us orphans even after your dormition; God, conqueror of the order of nature, keep your holy relics incorruptible to strengthen the Orthodox faith and piety, as a sign of immortality, glorifying Him, we cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
We sing praises to you, O saint of God, for you have surprised the world with miracles flowing from your holy relics. All who come with faith and kiss them receive all the good things they ask for. And we, who gave you strength, who crowned you with the crown of incorruption and who through you glorifies God, cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who appeared as a shipbuilder during a famine and ordered food to be delivered; Rejoice, you who have given sight to the blind, who have flown with faith to your holy relics. Rejoice, you who healed the youth from the incurable illness; Rejoice, you who cast out the demon from your wife and created health. Rejoice, chosen governor of Kerkyra; Rejoice, for you drove out the hordes of the evil Hagarians and sank their ships into the abyss. Rejoice, for you saw him surrounded by a host of Angels, holding a sword in his right hand and causing his enemies to tremble; Rejoice, build yourself a temple in which to celebrate the Liturgy on unleavened bread, forbidden by the governor. Rejoice, having struck down the Latin governor with cruel death; Rejoice, you who burned his image in a house in Venice with lightning. Rejoice, you who have put to shame the apostasy and false wisdom of the West; Rejoice, having established the one Orthodox faith to be true and saving for people. Rejoice, Spiridon, wonderful miracle worker!
Kontakion 13
O most wonderful saint of Christ, Father Spyridon! Our current prayer is accepted, deliver us from all troubles and misfortunes, strengthen our country against our enemies, grant us forgiveness of sins and save from eternal death all those who cry out to God about you: Alleluia!
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Queue
A line of parishioners at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, brought to Russia from the Greek island of Corfu, are located.
Photo: Sergey Pyatakov / RIA Novosti A fine autumn evening. There were a lot of people near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, but there were no crowds - we stood there for about 40 minutes. The people are good-natured and reverent, but without fanaticism and a feverish gleam in their eyes. They pray sincerely. Dressed differently, the entire cross-section of Moscow society. The volunteers and the police work efficiently and are also quite friendly.
A woman walks with a photograph of her husband. We ask why with a photograph - attach it to the relics. And the scarf can be attached to the relics.
– You need to take a handkerchief, apply it to the relics, and then wear it. There is also his image.
- And if you wash it, all the grace will go away? - we ask with a twist.
- Why wash, you don’t wash.
- Maybe we should also put the scarf in the coffin with us?
- Well, why are you doing this, this is nonsense.
–Are you asking for something spiritual?
- Well, yes, you need to ask with faith. By faith it is given to everyone.
We ask if they are asking to be saved and go to the Kingdom of Heaven. The woman clearly doesn't quite understand the question. We think that she understood it as if she needed to pray in order to die quickly. But no, she explains her bewilderment differently.
“We must ask for health, and after death, as it will be, so it will be.” To each his own. Whoever earns what will receive it. We have sinned, but let us ask for the Kingdom of Heaven? That doesn't happen either. It `s naturally. We all sin.
Another woman with flowers was a teacher, now retired, and her husband is a disabled person of the first group, she has been caring for him for three years. “Prayer helps... Everything must be taken for granted.” I went with my husband to the relics of St. Nicholas last year, now I go alone. For reconnaissance: see how long it is to stand and how easy it is to walk with a sick person. By the way, there is a separate line for disabled people and it’s quite possible to get through.
Middle-aged couple Marina and Andrey. Marina used to go to church often, but now less often. Her mother prayed a lot to Saint Spyridon. She did not read the life of the saint; from church books she read only the Gospel and the Old Testament (probably not the whole one).
– Do you know who Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is?
“Yes,” Marina answers, “he supports those who want to change jobs or travel or move.” We want to thank you for what we have and ask for changes in work or some other support.
“We are pursuing super selfish interests,” Andrey inserts ironically. – The saddest thing is that we’re not even ashamed to admit it, we’re so spoiled.
– Do you think this selfishness can be compensated for by something?
– I think as you get older you think more about spiritual things. Until the age of forty, you think more about worldly things, about your career, about benefits.
– Do you have children?
- No, I'm not ready yet.
– In fact, in our case, the money we ask for means children.
– You look like a very harmonious couple...
“I’m twelve years older than her.” But I’m much younger with good spirits, and I don’t get tired. Yes, unfortunately, in the modern world we want to give children an education and so that the children live no worse than we do, and so that we have time to sit with them.
– Why do you think the great saint fulfills our small requests?
– Perhaps due to the fact that our requests are not requests to take away from someone, or to win the lottery, but requests to help us earn money with our labor. Our requests may be mundane, but they are sincere and honest. That's why he hears people.
Brief life of the saint
The relics of the saint remain in Corfu, but he himself was born in Cyprus, in the village of Assia, around 270. The saint was from a simple family; from childhood he tended sheep.
Spyridon was simple, merciful to his neighbors, righteous, and for this he received from the Lord the gift of healing the sick, casting out demons and the gift of clairvoyance. Spiridon did not think about monasticism; in his youth he started a family, he had a daughter, whom he himself baptized. After the death of his wife, Spiridon did not abandon works of mercy.
Useful materials
During the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, he was appointed bishop of Trimifunt, a city in Cyprus, but led a very simple life - he tended sheep, wore simple clothes, and took food only to maintain his strength.
When, at the request of the emperor, Bishop Trimifunt arrived in the capital, a servant mistook him for a beggar and hit him on the cheek. Then the saint turned the other cheek, and the servant, fulfilling the commandment of Christ, realized who was standing in front of the door, and fell to his knees before the stranger.
Interesting fact
According to legend, one day Angels concelebrated with Saint Spyridon, candles and lamps lit up, and an invisible choir responded to the bishop’s cries during the service.
The life of the saint was filled with miraculous signs, but the main miracle occurred in 325 at the First Ecumenical Council. The heresy of Arianism captured many minds, sages and famous philosophers spoke on the side of Arius, and there was no end to the controversy.
Saint Spyridon was a simple shepherd, never studied with rhetoricians, but the artless and simple speech of the Bishop of Trimifunt showed everyone that before the Truth, human wisdom is dust.
St. Spiridon Trimifuntsky
Having laid out in simple words what a Christian should believe, the saint convinced the learned debaters to abandon the false teaching.
A clear proof of the Unity in the Holy Trinity was an ordinary clay brick, the saint squeezed it in his hand, water flowed down, fire rose up, and the clay remained in his palm. The three elements showed how there can be one Divinity in Three Persons.
The Council condemned Arianism and approved the dogma that we profess in the Creed.
“I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were.
For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.”
(The first part of the Creed, approved at the First Ecumenical (Nicene) Council)
The saint's righteous and peaceful life ended around 348.
"Make me righteous, just a little later"
Photo: Sergey Pyatakov / RIA Novosti
We simply asked people on the streets closest to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior if they knew who Saint Spyridon was. Those who know also had their own personal stories of the saint’s help.
Photographer Irina was photographing the Moscow Marathon, and was riding a bicycle from Luzhniki, and then, unexpectedly for herself, she stood in line at the relics of St. Spyridon.
“I worked for a long time at an event where there was a lot of police and cordons all around. It was raining and it was very cold. I'm all exhausted. And suddenly I see, after Muzeon there are cordons again. In such irritation I think: “How long can you litter your hometown with cordons, what can you do?” And I thought, why am I doing all this? And then I remembered that this was because of the right hand of St. Spyridon.
My conscience bothered me that I should somehow venerate St. Spyridon. And in the end, the cordons turned out to be nominal, there were few people, the sun came out. I walked to Spiridon without stopping even once.
I prayed for something unclear, and on the way out I didn’t want to take the icon. It's paper.
There are a lot of icons, it’s not clear where to put them. And I shook my head so swaggeringly, and again I felt ashamed. I returned and took the icon from the girl’s hands.
A., a man in his thirties, told how he quit smoking.
– I have long venerated St. Spyridon, and I have many stories connected with him. Well, thanks to Saint Spyridon, I quit smoking. I must say, I like the smell of good tobacco, smoke. I was abroad on business and was very busy there. Then I prayed to Saint Spyridon that everything would work out, and I decided to suffer some kind of restriction for this.
Well, let me quit smoking. I quit for two days. Everything went well. Then, joyful, I immediately bought a pack of cigarettes and lit it. That same day, a local flight was delayed and I almost missed my connection to Moscow. I realized that this was such a slap on the head for me.
No, I don’t think that I am such a navel of the Earth that because of me St. Spyridon delayed a flight with a hundred passengers. I suspect that, quite the opposite, he helped me get on time, and then unobtrusively showed me how much it would cost, and that I should appreciate the help. Since then, I... managed to break my promise a hundred times and most often received a push for this in the form of various tragicomic accidents, disruption of plans, and the like.
It’s as if you made an agreement with a coach who will push you until you learn something.
You know, they say that in ancient times someone seemed to pray: “Lord, make me righteous, just a little later.” The only thing is that I confessed this to everyone over and over again, and the addiction gradually receded. Well, in the end I quit smoking without any withdrawal pangs.
Our other interlocutor prays to St. Spyridon for animals.
– On Facebook I see posts about stray dogs, some abandoned in the country, others in a cage in a shelter. I feel so sorry for them! I can’t buckle down and donate money to them or go to the shelter. I look at the situation soberly and understand that this will be a one-time impulse, and it is unrealistic for me to do this constantly. Well, at least I’ll pray for them!
I thought that since Saint Spyridon was a shepherd, then most likely he had a dog. And he's kind. And if so, then he will help these unfortunate dogs too.
And I pray to Saint Spyridon that they find good owners.
Prayers to Saint Spyridon for help
It doesn’t matter that a large amount of time has passed since the death of the saint, all the same, the prayers for help of every believer will be heard by him. Most often, the speed of the saint's response depends on how strong your faith is. Some requests are fulfilled quickly, and some not so much. Remember that the most important thing is not to give up. In addition, you should also not wait for something to fall from the sky. It is necessary to consider certain signs that can indicate the fulfillment of your desire and achieve what you want.
In the hospital
A woman in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, brought to Russia from the Greek island of Corfu, are located.
Photo: Sergey Pyatakov / RIA Novosti Doctors and nurses in the main church hospital in Moscow also gathered to visit St. Spyridon and share stories about him. True, among them there are those who know his troparion by heart and read it every day, and those who come to venerate him at a piece of his relics in the Danilov Monastery. We ask a logical question, so why should you stand in line? The answer is like a tribute.
– How many hours are you prepared to stand in line to see the relics?
- We will stand as long as necessary.
When you stand, you pray, you begin to think why you came, what to ask the saint for. You remember people you need to pray for.
It is very important to pray with one mouth; it is not for nothing that they say that temple prayer is important. Although there is no worship here, there is general prayer.
– Can I ask for something earthly?
“We asked for housing, came to the Danilov Monastery to see the relics of St. Spyridon. And we all got housing.
– My aunt tells me to go and ask for an apartment. But it’s like I have some kind of block, I can’t ask for anything material.
- Let’s go and ask for you. Where two or three are gathered in My Name...
– You need to ask the Lord and the saints for wisdom.
- I will ask for my son. So that the Lord will preserve him. He is in transition. And so that I tell him the right words.
- I will ask him to teach me love for all people. And then the heart is compressed, there is melancholy in it.
Saint Spyridon is always with us
Right hand of Saint Spyridon of Trimythus.
Photo: Sergey Pyatakov / RIA Novosti The right hand of St. Spyridon of Trimythus was brought to Russia from the Greek island of Corfu on August 24. It was possible to venerate the shrine in Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Kemerovo, Moscow region, Tula, St. Petersburg, Tver, Saratov, Cheboksary, Yaroslavl and Moscow. The bringing of the relics of St. Spyridon is organized by the Charitable Foundation named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.
If you do not have the opportunity to visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, then you can venerate particles of the relics of St. Spyridon in other churches all year round. Among them in Moscow:
Church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Uspensky Vrazhek (Bryusov Lane) - icon of St. Spyridon in the main chapel on the right in front of the salt
Danilov Monastery, Church of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils - the ark in the side aisle on the second floor of the temple.
