# Saint Spyridon

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3rd and 4th-century Cypriot saint

"Spiridion" redirects here. For the genus of annelid, see [Spiridion (annelid)](/source/Spiridion_(annelid)). For the novel *Spiridio*, see [George Sand](/source/George_Sand).

For the ship *Aghios Spyridon*, see [List of Empire ships (Ca–Cl) § Empire Cape](/source/List_of_Empire_ships_(Ca%E2%80%93Cl)#Empire_Cape).

Saint Spyridon Icon of Saint Spyridon (between 1500 and 1600) Wonderworker (Ὁ Θαυματουργός) Born c. 270 Assia, Cyprus, Roman Empire Died 348 Trimythous, Cyprus Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Anglican Communion Canonized Pre-Congregation Major shrine Corfu Feast East: December 12 West: December 14 Attributes Gospel Book, potsherd, sprig of basil, shepherd's hat, nugget of gold, snake, jewelry, goat, golden sword, torch Patronage Craftsmen, healers, farmers, Corfu, Piraeus, Cyprus

**Spyridon**, also **Spyridon of Tremithus**[1][2] ([Greek](/source/Greek_language): Ἅγιος Σπυρίδων; c. 270 – 348), is a [saint](/source/Saint) honoured in both the [Eastern](/source/Eastern_Christianity) and [Western](/source/Western_Christianity) Christian traditions.

## Life

Spyridon was born in [Assia](/source/Assia%2C_Cyprus), in [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus). He worked as a [shepherd](/source/Shepherd) and was known for his great piety. He married and had one daughter, Irene. Upon the death of his wife, Spyridon entered a [monastery](/source/Monastery), and their daughter entered a [convent](/source/Convent).

Spyridon eventually became [Bishop](/source/Bishop) of Trimythous, or Tremithous (today called [Tremetousia](/source/Tremetousia)), in [Larnaca District](/source/Larnaca_District). He took part in the [First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea](/source/First_Council_of_Nicaea) (325), where he was instrumental in countering the [theological](/source/Theology) arguments of [Arius](/source/Arius) and his followers.

He reportedly converted a [pagan](/source/Paganism) philosopher to [Christianity](/source/Christianity) by using a [potsherd](/source/Potsherd) to illustrate how one single entity (a piece of pottery; some accounts say it was a brick) could be composed of three unique entities (fire, water, and clay); a [metaphor](/source/Metaphor) for the Christian [doctrine](/source/Doctrine) of the [Trinity](/source/Trinity). It is said that when he said "in the name of the father" the potsherd miraculously burst into flame, "and of the son" water began to drip on the ground, "and of the holy spirit" and only dust remained in his hand.

After the council, Spyridon returned to his [diocese](/source/Diocese) in Tremithous. He had earlier fallen into disfavor during the [persecutions](/source/Persecution) of Emperor [Maximinus Daza](/source/Maximinus_Daza), but died peacefully in his old age.

Spyridon was popular in Byzantine literature. A poem, now lost, was dedicated to him by his pupil [Triphyllius](/source/Triphyllius). It inspired two 7th-century [vitae](/source/Hagiography), one by Theodore of Paphos (c. 655) and another possibly by [Leontios of Neapolis](/source/Leontios_of_Neapolis). The former was used by [Symeon the Metaphrast](/source/Symeon_the_Metaphrast). [Arabic](/source/Arabic) and [Georgian](/source/Georgian_language) hagiographies also survive.[3]

## Relics

In the 650s, when the [Arabs](/source/Arab) took Cyprus, Spyridon's body was disinterred and taken to [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople). The [relics](/source/Relic) were found to be [incorrupt](/source/Incorrupt), and contained a sprig of [basil](/source/Basil), the "royal plant," both of which were taken as a [sign](/source/Miracle) of divine confirmation of his sanctity.

When Constantinople [fell to the Ottomans](/source/Fall_of_Constantinople) in 1453, Spyridon's relics were removed again. This time, they were taken to the island of [Corfu](/source/Corfu#Saint_Spyridon_the_Keeper_of_the_City) by a Corfiote [monk](/source/Monk) called Kalohairetis (Καλοχαιρέτης), where they remain to this day, in [Saint Spyridon Church](/source/Saint_Spyridon_Church).

The relics are taken in [procession](/source/Procession) every [Palm Sunday](/source/Palm_Sunday) and on other special occasions, for [veneration](/source/Veneration) by the faithful. All Philharmonics of Corfu, including the [Philharmonic Society of Corfu](/source/Philharmonic_Society_of_Corfu), take part in these ceremonial events. The relic of his right hand was located in [Rome](/source/Rome) in the Church of [Santa Maria in Vallicella](/source/Santa_Maria_in_Vallicella), to which it was given by [Pope Clement VIII](/source/Pope_Clement_VIII) to Cardinal Cesare of Baronio of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. There it remained until 1986 when the right arm of Spyridon was brought back to Corfu.

## Patronage and miracles

### Patronage

Spyridon is the [patron saint](/source/Patron_saint) of [potters](/source/Pottery) and of the island of [Corfu](/source/Corfu) where he is called "Αγιος Σπυρίδων ο πολιούχος", "Saint Spyridon, the Keeper of the City", for the miracle of expelling the [plague](/source/Plague_(disease)) (πανώλη or πανούκλα) from the island. He is also the patron saint of [Piraeus](/source/Piraeus) where he is celebrated and honored every year on December 12.

### Corfu

Main article: [Saint Spyridon Church](/source/Saint_Spyridon_Church)

It is believed by the faithful that the plague, on its way out of the island, scratched one of the fortification stones of the old citadel ([Palaio Frourio](/source/Old_Fortress%2C_Corfu)) to indicate its fury for being expelled. This scratch is still shown to visitors.

[Icon](/source/Icon) showing Saint Spyridon (*center, front*) silencing [Arius](/source/Arius) (*right, with hands over his mouth*) during the [First Ecumenical Council](/source/First_Ecumenical_Council) of [Nicaea](/source/First_Council_of_Nicaea) in 325.

Spyridon is also believed to have saved the island at the 1716 [siege of Corfu](/source/Siege_of_Corfu_(1716)). At that time the Turkish army and naval force led by Sultan [Ahmed III](/source/Ahmed_III) appeared in [Butrint](/source/Butrint) opposite Corfu.

On July 8 the Turkish fleet carrying 33,000 men sailed to Corfu from Butrint and established a beachhead in [Ipsos](/source/Ipsos%2C_Corfu) the same day the [Venetian](/source/Venice) fleet encountered the Turkish fleet off the channel of Corfu and defeated it in the ensuing naval battle. On July 19 the Turkish army reached the hills of the town and laid siege to the city. After repeated failed attempts and heavy fighting, the Turks were forced to raise the siege which had lasted twenty-two days.

There were also rumors spreading among the Turks that some of their soldiers saw Spyridon as a monk threatening them with a lit torch and that helped increase their panic. This victory over the Ottomans, therefore, was attributed not only to the leadership of Count [Schulenburg](/source/Johann_Matthias_von_der_Schulenburg) who commanded the stubborn defense of the island against the Ottomans but also to the miraculous intervention of Spyridon.

[Fresco](/source/Fresco) icon of St. Spiridon at [Zemen Monastery](/source/Zemen_Monastery), [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria).

After the victorious outcome of the battle, Venice honored Schulenburg and the Corfiotes for successfully defending the island. The great composer [Vivaldi](/source/Antonio_Vivaldi) was commissioned to write an [oratorio](/source/Oratorio), *[Juditha triumphans](/source/Juditha_triumphans)*, in celebration of the victory.

### Feast day

Recognizing Spyridon's role in the defense of the island, [Venice](/source/Republic_of_Venice) legislated the annual "[Litany](/source/Litany) of St. Spyridon" on August 11 as a commemoration of the event. His [feast day](/source/Feast_day) is celebrated in the East on the Saturday before [Great Lent](/source/Great_Lent) (known as "[Cheesefare](/source/Maslenitsa) Saturday") and December 12. For those [Eastern Churches](/source/Eastern_Churches) that follow the traditional [Julian Calendar](/source/Julian_Calendar), December 12 falls on December 25 of the modern [Gregorian Calendar](/source/Gregorian_Calendar). In the [West](/source/Western_Christianity) he is commemorated on December 14.

### Other

Spyridon is also the patron saint of the [Tolstoy family](/source/Tolstoy_family). Andrei Tolstoy ([fl.](/source/Floruit) 15th century) chose Spyridon as the family's saint and he remains so in both branches. The [Grand Prince](/source/Grand_Prince) of Muscovy [Vasily II](/source/Vasily_II) (1425–1462) apparently gave a gold [cross](/source/Cross) containing [relics](/source/Relic) of the saint to Andrei. This [reliquary](/source/Reliquary) survives and is held by [Nikolai Tolstoy](/source/Nikolai_Tolstoy).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["St. Spyridon of Tremithus"](https://orthochristian.com/89151.html). *OrthoChristian.Com*. Retrieved 2024-07-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus"](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/12/12/103526-saint-spyridon-the-wonderworker-bishop-of-tremithus). *www.oca.org*. Retrieved 2024-07-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Kazhdan, Alexander; Ševčenko, Nancy Patterson (1991). "Spyridon". In [Kazhdan, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Kazhdan) (ed.). *[The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium](/source/Oxford_Dictionary_of_Byzantium)*. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1940. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-504652-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-504652-8).

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Saint Spyridon](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Saint_Spyridon)***.

- [*St. Spyridon and other religious traditions on Corfu*](https://web.archive.org/web/20050526102418/http://www.terrakerkyra.gr/history/en/pisti/)

- [St Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus](http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103526) Orthodox [icon](/source/Icon) and [synaxarion](/source/Synaxarion)

- [Saint Spyridon](http://www.kerkyrainfo.gr/corfuisland/corfuisland/corfusaintspyridon/index.html)

- [The life of Saint Spyridon](http://www.stspyridon.org.au/ourFaith.php?articleId=83&subMenu=Saints) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070829204929/http://www.stspyridon.org.au/ourFaith.php?articleId=83&subMenu=Saints) 2007-08-29 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Holy Metropolis of Trimythous, Church of Cyprus](http://www.imtrimythountos.org.cy/)

- [Colonnade Statue in St Peter's Square](http://www.stpetersbasilica.info/Exterior/Colonnades/Saints/St%20Spyridon-101/StSpiridon.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saint Spyridon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Spyridon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Spyridon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.