Who does the saint patronize and how should one pray to him? Where are the relics of Spyridon kept and how does he differ from other canonized saints?
In the holy scriptures and the history of Orthodox Christianity, many testimonies of miracles and the help of the holy fathers have been preserved. Each of them has its own history, a difficult fate, accompanied by torment and deprivation. In the Orthodox religion, it is customary to pray and ask for blessings from canonized saints, venerate the relics and perform rituals, and go to places of pilgrimage for followers of Jesus.
Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is one of them - famous for his amazing abilities during life and after worldly death. About what you can ask from Spyridon, what role he plays in the work of Orthodoxy, where to venerate his relics and how to behave in order to receive his blessing, help and fulfillment of desires in our material.
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
Why does the saint’s body continue to “live” to this day?
Today, the bishop's tomb is surrounded by gold and precious jewelry. The most curious and inexplicable thing is that his relics have not changed in any way over time.
The skin remained soft and his face can still be seen to this day. Hair and teeth, contrary to the laws of nature, have remained untouched for centuries. His body, as during life, is at a constant normal temperature of 36.6 degrees.
There is no objective description of the phenomenon: the body of the deceased lives on even now, amazing parishioners and priests with its power. That is why they pray to the saint for everything they need.
The saint helps Russians and all believers. In our country, he is revered no less than Nicholas and compared to the prophet Elijah. Spyridon was worshiped more than others in Veliky Novgorod and Moscow. In the 17th century, a temple was built in Moscow in his honor, where an icon of the saint and relics is kept. The icon located in Moscow helps believers find the path to the truth.
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.
What does the icon of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky help with?
Despite the fact that Saint Spyridon was born far outside of Russia, there is an icon of the miracle worker in almost every church in Moscow. You can often see the icon of St. Spyridon in Russian churches. The icon of Spyridon of Trimifun located in the house can protect those living in it from troubles and illnesses. The miraculous icon of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky helps to cope with any difficulties in life, difficult situations, illnesses and ailments, and gain the strength to live.
Due to the fact that Spiridon helped people a lot during his life, the Lord endowed him with the ability to help mortals after death and continue to help them in solving various life issues. He was known as a righteous man and also a just ruler, a protector of people. That is why there are even prayers to Spyridon of Triphythous for money.
Many people hang the icon of Spyridon of Trimythous, which helps with simple household chores in the house
The goal is to bring faith into everyday life, not to lose justice and righteousness in such simple aspects as housekeeping and relationships with other people.
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.
Servant of the Lord
While still a small boy, Saint Spyridon tried to help those in need. He could lend money and not ask for repayment, and when he grew up, his house was always an overnight shelter for the homeless and he gave food to those who needed it. There were even whole stories about his kindness. Moreover, he constantly followed the commandments of God.
After the death of his wife and child, he sold all his property and went to travel the world. Before that, he forgave all the debts that were supposed to be repaid to him and distributed all his money to those who really needed it.
His life is an example of how a simple farmer became a bishop. He worked all the time, even despite his rank, in the field and harvested crops. But he met the Lord during prayer. His life leaves no one indifferent. But even after their death, many turn to Spyridon of Trimifuntsky with a prayer for help. It is often asked in such situations:
- in improving material condition,
- in a successful solution to the housing issue,
- to end a long-term litigation,
- to resolve family disputes,
- in search of a good job and others.
The most important thing in a request to this saint is sincerity in actions and words. If you have greedy motives, this will not only anger the saint, but may also bring disaster upon you.
Also read: Prayer for good luck and success in everything to Spiridon of Trimifuntsky
"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.
LiveInternetLiveInternet
Irina, Voronezh “There should have been a layoff at work”
Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
Saint Spyridon is a quick helper and intercessor for us sinners. Our family turns to him, as well as to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, very often. For a sick child, for work (my son couldn’t find a job for a long time, now everything is fine, and he likes the job and it’s close to home; there was supposed to be a layoff at work, yesterday my son called and said that he wasn’t being laid off), even for minor problems household, and most importantly, Saint Spyridon helped us buy a dacha: it’s close to the city, there’s a trailer, and the price is ridiculous (everyone is surprised and says that there are no such prices now). Now we will be able to travel out of town with the baby in the summer. Thank you, Saint Spyridon. Pray to God for us! Glory to you, Lord!
Tatyana “We got lost in Corfu and almost missed our bus”
This happened to me. While on vacation in Greece, my friend and I went to Kerkyra. After visiting the Temple of Spyridon, have a wonderful lunch at a nearby restaurant, and then free time. And then - like in the movie “The Diamond Arm”, only instead of Andrei Mironov, my friend and I ran along the same colorful streets of Kerkyra, asking in broken English and Greek the ferry parking lot or the monument to our compatriot Ushakov. People either shrugged their shoulders or pointed in the wrong direction. Even the explanations of our wonderful guide over the phone did not save the situation. And I didn’t want to imagine what would happen if we were late for our bus. I don’t know about my friend, but I asked Spiridon for help continuously, simultaneously looking for transport. We were even ready to go to the pier on the horse-drawn carriage that rides around the city, but it didn’t stop. And so, when despair was at its peak, since the ferry’s departure time had passed by minutes, we were standing at the crossing with distorted faces and bulging eyes - the taxi stopped, as if at a red light, and a few minutes later the back door opened picturesquely and a voice in Russian was heard: “Come in!” These were our tourists from the bus - a husband and wife, although fairly drunk, recognized us at the crossing. They were nervously waiting for us at the pier, the driver even muttered: “You need to drink less!” And I, sitting on the bus, was completely in prostration - it was difficult to immediately “digest” this story and the quick mercy and help of God and St. Spyridon the Wonderworker.
Lyudmila “My daughter found the money while going to the temple to get the icon of St. Spyridon”
We had a difficult period; my husband and I were unemployed. On your website I read “Would you pray to Saint Spyridon” by Archimandrite John (Krestyankin). I found a life video. I began to pray. But in our church there was no icon of the saint. She asked her daughter (she lives in Ternopil, where the right hand of the saint was brought there) to buy the icon and send it. And she had financial difficulties. But she still went to church. On the way I found money. I bought the LAST icon in the store with them, and just had enough money for shipping. But besides, after reading the akathist, my husband got a job and I got a job. Holy Hierarch Father Spyridon, pray to God for us!
Mark “More than a year since we ordered the porcelain iconostasis”
I am sure that there are many examples of miraculous help through prayers to St. Spyridon. It would be wrong to remain silent about what I myself witnessed. A year ago, the children decided to buy an apartment in a good location, next to us. Only half of the money for the first payment was collected, and where to get the rest of the money was unclear, and it was incredibly difficult to find and borrow. And then they learned that the saint helps specifically in solving housing problems. They read the akathist to him, began to read the troparion in the morning and evening - and lo and behold! We found money within a week! And a year later, recently, it was necessary to contribute the rest of the money - and again the saint helped. Miracles also happened in our church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which is under construction, in Sumy. It’s been more than a year since a porcelain iconostasis was ordered in St. Petersburg, but the manufacturers were in no hurry to fulfill the order. The matter dragged on, and then the bishop set the date for the consecration of the temple in the fall - December 25, 2012. What to do? Our rector distributed an akathist to the saint to all parishioners, and everyone began to actively read it. And so on December 15, they brought us the iconostasis, they began to assemble it, install it, and on the 24th construction work was carried out, and on the 25th everything was ready, and the bishop consecrated our temple. Now for us Saint Spyridon is the heavenly patron of our temple!
Elena “My husband left, leaving me with two of his loans”
Saint Spyridon helped me financially. In 2009, my husband and my children left me, leaving me with two of his loans (one in dollars), small debts, and also borrowed a decent amount for us from my friend, telling her that my wife would pay her back (I didn’t even know about it). Added to my enormous pain over the betrayal of my married husband was my dire financial situation. And I had two teenage sons. Thank God, I have a stable job, albeit with a small salary (from the bank). And on the day of the veneration of St. Spyridon, I was in church, praying, and then they called me from work and said that they were giving me a preferential loan! I paid off all my debts and paid off my loans. And even though at work I am still (and for another year) paying off the loan, but this is a fifth or sixth of my salary, and not almost all of it, as before. I received a loan at work simply by miracle, it is very difficult for such a simple worker like me, everyone was surprised and said that I was not on the list in the morning. And now (as before) I pray to all the saints for the admonition of my husband Andrey!!! Saint Spyridon, pray to God for us!!!
Lyudmila “Through the prayers of the saint, help always came”
Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous is a particularly revered saint in our family! Through his prayers, help always came when needed. The Saint helps us! And he admonishes us, sinners, which is very important! We went to Kerkyra, prayed at the relics of the saint, we pray to him at home, sometimes I read an akathist to him when I feel despondent or if someone is sick. Saint Spyridon always helped. God bless! Saint Spyridon helped us with the apartment: to buy the apartment we wanted. And some time ago I learned that a temple in honor of St. Spyridon was being built in a neighboring area. This is great joy for us! Glory to You, Lord!!! Holy Hierarch Father Spyridon, pray to God for us!!!
Andrey “Thanks to him I came to the Church”
Saint Spyridon not only helped me a lot in solving material problems, but thanks to him I came to the Church. I was baptized in infancy, my parents were believers. To my shame, due to the daily worries of life, I stopped praying, did not fast, and very rarely went to the temple of God. At a difficult moment in my life, I began to ask St. Spyridon for help in everyday, material matters, and he helped me and is still helping me. This is a miracle! But the most important thing: now I constantly go to church, and my soul is joyful and calm, as if I was born again. How sorry I am for these years when I sinned and rarely remembered God! Glory to God and great gratitude to Saint Spyridon of Trimifunt!
Natalia “When our dad went on a drinking binge”
Saint Spyridon also helped our family. When our dad went on a drinking binge, my sister began to intensively pray to the saint, because she had heard a lot about how the Lord, through his prayers, quickly helps suffering people. She prayed for several days, and dad came out of his drinking bout! For us this is a real living miracle of God! Glory to our Lord forever. Amen.
Maria “Mom carelessly signed a financial document for a large amount of money”
Saint Spyridon helped us prevent legal proceedings. Several years ago, my mother inadvertently signed a financial document at work for a large amount of money. Like a bad movie, her company folded and all financial responsibility fell on her as a subscriber. The prospects were terrible: prison and so on. We began to pray to Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints. Every evening I also read an akathist to St. Spyridon. I’ll come in the evening, I don’t have the strength, I want to sleep - and I’ll tell myself: no, get on your knees and read, ask Father Spyridon for help. A few days later I was recommended the best lawyer. He took us on a recommendation and didn't charge us a penny. He looked at the papers and said that the period of liability had expired and mom was in no danger! I have never felt greater joy! Glory to God and thanks to Spiridonushka for his help to us sinners!
Irina “St. Spyridon miraculously entered my life and remained in it”
This entry was made by me in 2011. Amazing saint Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky! In an amazing way he came into my life and remained in it. It started with the fact that on February 19, 2009, having learned that my first grandson was safely born, I went to the temple to celebrate. She thanked God, the Mother of God, all the saints, and asked for the intercession of her mother and child. Then, in a church shop, I bought a commemorative icon of the Mother of God and asked the holy saint of God, Daniel, whose name they decided to give to the baby. No such icon was found, and instead a small icon of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt was offered. I accepted with gratitude, although at that moment I was not at all familiar with this saint, I knew for sure: there are no accidents, and God’s Providence acts independently of ours for the good of us sinners. The icon of the Mother of God was presented to my children and grandson, and Saint Spyridon remained with me as a memory of that happy day. Of course, I read the life of this saint, but over time the details began to be forgotten. Following the first, the second grandson was born, life dictated its own rules, difficulties arose, but I did not despair, firmly believing in the mercy of the Almighty and the intercession of the saints. I cannot be called an exemplary parishioner, I confess, but there is no end to the Creator’s mercy, as long as I don’t give up completely, so long as my consciousness doesn’t darken and my heart doesn’t harden.
Gradually, life began to improve, and suddenly I was offered a job on more favorable terms. At the same time, I learn that the shrines of the Moscow Danilov Monastery have arrived in Stavropol: a particle of relics, a lifetime portrait-icon and the rosary of St. Seraphim of Sarov. I decided to go and worship. Before work, I go into St. Andrew’s Cathedral and next to the things that belonged to Seraphim of Sarov, I see a large icon of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt! I almost stopped thinking about him, but he did not forget about me and reminded me through whose mercy and intercession help came. And he attached his shoe as proof. What joy, tenderness, tears of gratitude and repentance. I am re-reading the life and miracles of St. Spyridon, but I am imbued with them with a completely different heart, and his daughter’s name was the same as mine - Irina. Yesterday was the day of remembrance of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, and today, knowing that a young employee was having difficulty obtaining a mortgage, she advised me to prayerfully turn to the good Saint Spyridon. I think that he will try to help her too. Thank God for everything!
PS 12/22/13 a young employee moved to a new apartment!
Servant of God Tamara “We barely made ends meet”
One day, our family faced a very difficult financial situation. My husband and I struggled, but we could barely make ends meet, and we did not see a way out of the impasse, since we are both already pensioners. I was so tired of hopelessness that one evening during evening prayer I prayed to our Lord Jesus Christ for help. The next day I was looking through my church calendar and became interested in the icon of St. Spyridon of Trimythous. After reading his life, I prayed to him for help. A week later, my husband received a long-awaited increase in his pension, and although we did not become rich, our financial situation stabilized. Thank you to our Lord Jesus Christ and Saint Spyridon of Trimifunt!
Vitaly “Worked for three months and did not fulfill the plan”
I work in a bank. It so happened that I moved from one position to another. I worked for three months and did not fulfill the plan, but I must say that this happened for the first time in the last few years (the woman who worked several years before me always fulfilled). I went to the temple and prayed to St. Spyridon of Trimythous, and then the clients came one after another. Plus it was my birthday, they gave me a lot of money...
Tanya “The saint made me read the entire New Testament”
Saint Spyridon somehow forced me to read the entire New Testament from beginning to end. To be honest, I usually can’t read the Holy Scriptures for a long time, I’m constantly distracted by vanity. But one day, after a prayer service in the church of St. Spyridon, I suddenly found a special inspiration, one might say an Easter mood, and I read the entire New Testament from cover to cover in three days! Later I surprised myself...
Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
Mary “The saint gave me a piece of his shoe”
The help of Saint Spyridon came to me more than once. I still turn to him often, and December 25 is a special day for our family. Three years ago, my husband and I were left without work. Of course, despondency and all the ensuing “charms” of unemployment and debt became our companions for some time. By chance I learned about Saint Spyridon on TV and decided to pray to him. Through prayer to Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, within two weeks I posted my resume, passed an interview and found an excellent job. A year later, we again watched a program about Spiridon on television and learned that his shoes wear out within a year, and when they are replaced, the worn ones are cut into small pieces and distributed to believers. Since about the pilgrimage to Fr. At that time I could only dream of Kerkyra, I mentally asked Spiridon to somehow give me a piece of his shoe, if possible. A few days later I accidentally meet an old acquaintance and find out that she was in Kerkyra and she had a piece of Spiridon’s shoe, which she took with the express purpose of giving it to someone. In general, about two weeks after I asked Spiridon for a small shrine, I not only received what I asked for, but also an oil consecrated on his relics.
Natalya “The saint helped in the construction of our temple”
Several years ago, at the relics of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, she asked for help in building a temple in the village of Kirovskoye in Crimea. Since then, the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was opened in our village and construction of the Church of St. Ambrose of Optina began. Thank you to the saint for hearing our prayers.
Anna “The next morning the child recovered”
Saint Spyridon is our family saint. It helps not only with housing difficulties. He is a great helper in all family problems! I can tell you many cases of blessed help from Saint Spyridon to our family. If a child was sick, I prayed to Spyridon, read an akathist in the evening, placed an icon of the saint next to my son, and the next morning the child recovered. This happened several times! If there are problems at work, we also pray to Spyridon, and help comes immediately. In financial difficulties, when there were situations where there was simply no money to pay the rent or pay off debts, St. Spyridon always helped, money appeared as if from nowhere (or an unexpected part-time job, or relatives gave it, or an unplanned bonus). Spiridon also protects from ill-wishers, and most importantly, brings some sense! Holy Hierarch Father Spyridon, pray to God for us!
Anatoly “The builders built at random”
Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is helping me build a dacha. When I started construction, a lot of money was spent, and the builders built at random. And then the money ran out and work stopped. There is no money, and there is no end to work. I began to turn to Saint Spyridon every morning with a request to help me complete the construction. My request was fulfilled very simply by clarifying in my head what needed to be done at each stage of construction. I realized that I could do all the construction work myself and that I could make all the necessary purchases of building materials in the required quantities myself. And it quickly became clear that there was no shortage of money and that I could do everything. My only regret is that I did not turn to St. Spyridon earlier. Reverend Father Spyridon, pray to God for us!
Elena Guryeva “We lived in a rented apartment with three children”
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous helped us when we were in a terrible situation: we lived in a rented apartment with three children, my husband left me, and I also lost my job. And so we prayed to Saint Spyridon, read the akathist, and through the saint’s prayers we were given a 100 percent subsidy for the purchase of housing. This subsidy, it turns out, is given to large families in Moscow, but we didn’t know - in general, few people know about it. And we had to collect a lot of different papers, certificates that we had no other housing, and stand in line at night to give these certificates. And so the housing commission in April 2012 issued us a certificate so that we could buy an apartment with it. And we even bought two: not one two-room apartment, but two one-room apartments, although one of them was in the Moscow region. But now we feel so good and comfortable! Now, however, we are changing our Moscow apartment to another area - from Yasenevo to Izmailovo, since we haven’t really agreed among ourselves where to live. And now I again began to read the akathist to St. Spyridon. Thank God for everything! Our Holy Hierarch Spyridon, pray to God for us! How terribly we were lost, I cried my eyes out when we had nothing, but now there is such joy! How good it is when we have such kind prayer books! There are not enough words to express all this happiness that we now have through the merciful prayers of the saint! Now we don’t hang around in other people’s corners, but we have our own apartment. God bless!!!
Vera “The court decision was not in our favor”
Saint Spyridon and Saint Nicholas helped us solve the housing problem. We had a trial on the privatization of a departmental apartment, which lasted a year and a half, and the first court decision was not in our favor. Having changed the lawyer, we started the case again. In the meantime, while the process was going on, we visited the island of Corfu and prayed at the relics of St. Spyridon, and six months later we won this almost lost case! Moreover, a year later we unexpectedly bought an inexpensive apartment! This is a real miracle that required a lot of strength, tears, and intense prayers from our entire family. Thank God for everything!
Catherine “The Saint teaches me humility”
I have a lot of, if not miraculous, but unusual coincidences associated with Saint Spyridon. It was as if he deliberately reminded us of himself and became almost like family. Having learned that they pray to him when they have housing problems, I began to ask... True, now I’m ashamed - I “trained” myself so much that, approaching the icon of the saint, I thought only about my apartment... The problem has not yet been solved, but it’s getting there, and, I think this is a lesson to me: the saint teaches me humility, which is much more salutary. And I myself am no longer begging for anything - I just thank you, ask for the salvation of my soul and believe that if it is useful to me, then everything will work out!
Ilya “Every year before the feast of the saint, miracles happened”
God bless! Everything was simple: I saw a program on Channel One about Saint Spyridon of Trimythous. How quickly does he help? During this transfer I asked the saint. I understood: it’s crazy, where would the apartment come from? We live with our parents in a two-room apartment. After a day or two I realized that my faith was not the same... and after three days I forgot. Six months later, relatives invited me to live in a three-room apartment, and they gave me the keys on December 25. Every year before the holidays, miracles happened, people marveled and waited. I had the feeling that I had forgotten something: only in the third year I remembered my request. He thanked the priest as best he could and asked the Lord and His holy saint to serve a prayer service of thanksgiving. Marvelous is the Lord God in His saints. My mother is stubborn: all the time we lived in the apartment, she repeated that it would be better to have her own, small, but her own. In the fourth year, I learned that there is Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, who helps with housing. I didn’t tell her about my requests, I just asked who helped with this apartment? I thought about it - but still it would be better to have my own. She prayed and ordered prayer services herself. Thank God, we moved in December: it’s a small place, the renovations aren’t completely done. Since then I have been reading the life of the saint carefully and every time my eyes fill with tears... Glory to you, Saint Spyridon. Thanks to the parents for their help and prayers.
Valentina “I couldn’t find a job for a year”
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous helped me a lot. When I stood at a crossroads, I didn’t know what to do. The fact is that I could not find a job for a year (I was laid off due to the liquidation of the enterprise), and we live alone with our daughter, and it was very difficult, since our dad did not pay child support. And I decided to sell our 3-room apartment in the village and buy it in the regional center, since it is easier to find work there. I advertised for sale everywhere, but could not find buyers, and then I prayed to Saint Spyridon to help me or somehow let me know that he heard me. And then the next day I got two buyers at once, although no one had been interested in my apartment for more than a month. One of them agreed to give the money on the same day, but I said that I would first look for a suitable apartment in Bryansk, and then I would sell it right away. But when I started looking for an apartment, it turned out that prices had almost doubled and for my good three ruble I could only buy a bad one-room apartment. I changed my mind, and three months later I got a job. And I understand that the saint made it clear to me that he heard me by sending me buyers, so that I could see for myself that I did not need to sell the apartment, and so that I would not torment myself. Thank you to Saint Spyridon! I pray to God for us.
Irina “I wanted to have my own house”
I learned about Saint Spyridon of Trimythous when his right hand was brought to Kyiv. This was in 2009. Our whole family went to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra to venerate and venerate his holy relics. I always wanted to have my own house outside the city. And I asked, if possible, that we build it. At that time there were no such funds. And the next year, my husband was offered a lucrative job under a contract for 1.5 years. And with this money we were able to start building. Before laying the foundation stone for the house, I asked the priest to serve a prayer service at the site and pray to Saint Spyridon. And although not everything is finished in construction and there is still a lot of work, thanks to the prayers of St. Spyridon, a beginning has been made. Moreover, I now consider the priest, whom we invited to pray for the start of construction, to be my confessor and try to confess to him more often. Now, when I arrive at a construction site, the first thing I do is read the troparion to the saint several times and a prayer. And near the work a temple was opened, where there are the relics of Saints Nicholas and Spyridon. Now every Thursday you can go to a prayer service to St. Nicholas and St. Spyridon at lunchtime. Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you for the help and prayers of St. Spyridon!
Elena “I lived in a dilapidated wooden house. There are cracks and drafts everywhere...”
I really revere Saint Spyridon! I read that he was a friend of St. Nicholas of Myra, the miracle worker, that they spoke together at the Council against the heresy of Arianism. I bought an akathist to St. Spyridon and his icon. And then I found out that St. Spyridon helps a lot if a person has housing problems. I began to pray and order prayer services to this saint. I have a disability, a meager pension (RUB 5,560), and I work part-time, of course, but not enough money. And I live in the Moscow region in a dilapidated wooden house. There were cracks, drafts everywhere, there was water in the house, but there was no place to wash. One room, a tiny kitchenette, an old veranda, an outdoor toilet... In the summer it was okay, but in the winter it was a bit difficult.
Having heard that the relics of St. Spyridon had been brought to the Danilovsky Monastery, I went there. The queue was huge. I got up at the very end at 12 noon, and venerated the relics at 2 am! I stood on my feet for 14 hours without sitting down even once! But there was no fatigue, and this was with my sore back! And the taxi driver took me to my friends at night for a small fee. And soon after that, my other friends, having received a big prize for one invention, simply gave me 100 thousand rubles to renovate the house. And there were two wonderful people who insulated my veranda very cheaply, turning it into a kitchen, and from the former kitchen into a shower and toilet, and installed a sewer system. Now I have all the comforts. I believe that this is simply a miracle through the prayers of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt to the Lord. Glorious is God in His saints!
Konstantin Lavrov “Criminals were afraid to use the bus for personal purposes”
Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
Pskov diocese. The rector of the Church of Peter and Paul in the village of Vetvennik, Father Konstantin Podkorytov, arrived late at night in St. Petersburg on parish business. At 6 o'clock in the morning the Gazelle bus was not at the entrance of the house on Kadetsky Boulevard in the city of Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo). The priest turned to law enforcement agencies, he himself made attempts to search for the bus, he prayed fervently, but... Through his spiritual children he turned to Archpriest John (Mironov) for prayerful help. Father Konstantin was told that a bus would be found, but he needed to go to the chapel of St. Spyridon on Bolshoy Prospekt of Vasilyevsky Island and ask him for help, and about a month had already passed. Soon a call came from a parking lot in the city of Kolpino that it was necessary to pay for parking a car that had been left for one day and pick up the car. Apparently, the attackers were afraid to use the bus for personal purposes and left it without touching anything. This is the help of Saint Spyridon that took place in St. Petersburg.
Elena M. “I was awaiting trial in court”
Saint Spyridon of Trimythous is my first and most favorite saint. It may not seem like a miracle to some, but he helped me a lot. Having accidentally heard about him on TV, I went to the temple from which the presenter spoke about the saint. I bought an akathist and prayers to the saint there. I also learned from the program that a saint always helps if you pray to him for at least 30 days. I was then awaiting trial in court, and there were three days left before it. I complained to myself that it was unlikely that the saint would help me, because I didn’t have 30 days ahead. However, hope dies last, every day I read the akathist to the saint, troparion 5 and kontakion 2, prayers. Three days later I went to court, and, fortunately for me, the court hearing was postponed, which gave me the opportunity to prepare for the trial much better. When I returned home, the confusion in my head and nervous state were replaced by a clear, specific and harmonious program. What I had not been able to do before: organize my upcoming speech and make sure that I had all the copies of documents necessary for the trial - everything immediately worked out and fell into place. And there were still missing days for reading prayers. Since then, I have read these prayers every day (although all the trials, thank God, are over), periodically I also read the akathist.
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.
Life and miracles
The life of the saint surprises with its miracles. If you believe the legends, he tamed the elements, prevented droughts, healed people and more than once raised the dead. Spiridon was born into a peasant family and, like his parents, was meek and humble, working on fertile land, cultivating grain. That is why on the icon of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, in addition to his face, grain fields are depicted. Spiridon was married for a short time, but his wife died early, the Lord did not give her a long life. Despite this, Spyridon did not become embittered with the Lord, but continued to profess honesty, generosity and mercy.
There are known facts that Spiridon divided all his few incomes among the poor. For his generosity, the Lord endowed him with the ability to heal people from illnesses. Sometimes one word was enough to heal or resurrect, so strong was its power. Often believers can see the icons of Nicholas the Wonderworker and Spyridon of Trimifuntsky together, since these saints are similar in the abundance of their miracles and mercy towards people.
For such merits, Spiridon was appointed bishop in the city where he lived, Trimifunt. But, even being in such a high position, Spiridon continued to work in the fields, give his income to the poor and work miracles. He died in 348 while praying.
During his life, the miracle worker visited many countries: Egypt, Syria, many European countries. He was merciful to everyone, both pagans and fellow believers. Many, thanks to him, began to believe in the Lord and received Baptism.
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.
Prayers to Saint Spyridon of Trimythous
Troparion, tone 1
At the Council of Pervago, you appeared as a champion and wonderworker, / Our Father to God-bearing Spyridon. / Moreover, you cried out to the dead in the grave / and you turned the serpent into gold, / and you always sang holy prayers to you, / you had angels co-serving with you, most sacred. Glory to Him who gave you strength,/ glory to Him who crowned you,/ glory to Him who works through you healing to all.
Kontakion, tone 2
Vulnered by the love of Christ, most sacred, / your mind was fixed on the dawn of the Spirit, / through your diligent vision you found your deed, O God-accepting, / the Divine altar became, / asking for the Divine radiance to all.
Prayer
Oh, great and wonderful saint of Christ and wonderworker Spyridon, Kerkyra praise, the whole universe, bright lamp, warm to God, prayer book and to all who come running to you and pray with faith Hey, quick intercessor! You gloriously explained the Orthodox faith at the Council of Nicaea among the Fathers, you showed the trinity of the Holy Trinity with miraculous power and you completely put the heretics to shame. Hear us sinners, the saint of Christ, praying to you, and by your strong intercession with the Lord, deliver us from every evil situation: from famine, flood, fire and deadly plagues. In your time of life you delivered your people from all these disasters: you saved your country from the invasion of the Hagarians and from famine, you saved the king from an incurable illness and saved many You brought sinners to repentance, you gloriously raised the dead, and for the holiness of your life there were angels , invisibly in the church singing and serving with you, you had. Therefore, Lord Christ, glorify you, your faithful servant, for all the secret human deeds have been granted to you to understand and to expose those who live unrighteously. You diligently helped many who lived in poverty and lack, you nourished the poor people abundantly during the famine, and you also fed many signs with the power of the living Spirit of God in you. You created life. Do not forsake us either, Saint of Christ, remember us, your children, at the Throne of the Almighty and beg the Lord to grant forgiveness to our many sins, a comfortable and peaceful life. m, the death of the belly is not shameful and peaceful, and eternal bliss in the future He vouchsafes us, so that we may send glory and thanksgiving to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
( 6 ratings, average: 4.33 out of 5)
Orthodox teaching on the relics of saints
The veneration of the relics (remains) of saints dates back to the first times of Christianity. This has been mentioned in written evidence since the 2nd century. Even then, the value of the remains of God's saints was placed by believers above all earthly riches and treasures. For example, in the District Epistle on the martyrdom of Polycarp of the Church of Smyrna (Asia Minor), the bones of this saint are called “more precious than gold and expensive stones.”
“Just as the imperial crown, decorated on all sides with precious stones, gives off a varied shine, so the bodies of the holy martyrs, speckled as if with precious stones, with wounds raised for the Lord, are more precious and more venerable than any imperial crown” (St. John Chrysostom, 347-407) .
The dogma of the veneration of the relics of saints was finally formed at the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787, Nicaea). During earthly life, the bodies of God’s saints are a dwelling, a temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, even after separation from the soul, the body (that is, the power) is not deprived of heavenly grace, pouring it out abundantly on believers. Not only undecayed bodies and bone remains are recognized as holy relics, but even dust and ashes.
For example, Blessed Jerome of Stridon (342-430) mentioned this in his writings. Christians revered both the relics of the prophet Samuel, which existed in the form of dust, and the relics of the apostles Peter and Paul, which were preserved in the form of bones.
Should relics be incorruptible?
The incorruption of relics is not a prerequisite for the canonization of an ascetic. The main thing is the fact of the presence of miraculous help through prayers to him. The preservation of the relics incorruptible in Christianity is perceived as a miracle, contributing to the rapid spread of veneration of the saint. However, the relics of saints do not perform miracles on their own.
“Our Savior Christ gave us saving springs, the remains of saints, pouring out benefits in various ways on the worthy. And this is through Christ, Who dwells in them” (decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council).
However, relics are not a magical amulet. Touching the relics in itself is not miraculous. The main and obligatory condition for this is faith in the holiness of the ascetic and in the mercy of God.
“In Orthodox Christianity, God alone is the Giver of all blessings. He is the Source, and His saints are just wires. He is the Sun, and His saints are only mirrors reflecting His light. And if a person approaches a shrine with relics and makes a wish or believes that kissing it will solve all his problems, this is paganism and idolatry” (priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko).
