Today, Thursday, December 12 according to the calendar the memory of Agios Spyridon is commemorated.

The names celebrating today are as follows:

  • Spyridon, Spyridon, Spyros,
  • Spyretos, Spyrakis, Spyrakos, Spilios,
  • Spiridoula, Spirula, Spyreta,
  • Spirina, Spiridina,
  • Lula.

Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, bishop of Trimythoundos Cyprus

Saint Spyridon was born in 270 AD. in the now occupied village of Assia (Askia) in Cyprus (and not in Trimythunda – today’s Tremetousia – as many write) from a family of shepherds, which was somewhat wealthy. Although he was educated enough, he did not change his profession. He too continued to be a shepherd.

As a character, the Saint was simple, good, full of love for his neighbor. On Sundays and holidays, he often took the shepherds and led them to the holy temples, and then explained to them the gospel or apostolic passage. God blessed him to often become a patron of widows and orphans.

He married a pious wife and had a daughter, Irene. Soon, however, his wife died. In order to heal his wound, Spyridon devoted himself even more to the teaching of the divine word.

After much pressure, he was ordained a priest. And indeed, he was a true priest of the Gospel, just as Uncle Paul wants him: Blameless, careful, temperate, modest, hospitable, instructive, and to have children who submit with all modesty. So also Spyridon, he was so correct as a priest that when the bishopric of Trimythoundos in Cyprus became a widow, the people and the clergy elected him bishop by uproar.

From this position, Spyridon advanced so far in virtue that God claimed him to perform many miracles.

Let us note here that Saint Spyridon, with the authority of his holy and moral life, at the First Ecumenical Council, which took place in Nicaea in Bithynia (Asia Minor) and in which he participated, defeated the Arians and emerged from the brilliant defenders of the Orthodox faith. In fact, according to tradition, after speaking for a while, he then made the sign of the Cross and with his left hand, which was holding a tile, in the form of the Holy Trinity said: “In the name of the Father” and made it appear upwards from the tile fire, by which it had been baked. And when he said: “And of the Son”, water flowed down, through which the soil of the tile was fermented. And when he added: “And of the Holy Spirit” he showed in his handful only the soil that remained.

Saint Spyridon fell asleep on December 12, 350 AD.

In Corfu, the shrine of Agios Spyridon is lit up four times a year. On Palm Sunday for the liberation of the island from a plague epidemic in 1629 AD. Great Saturday because in the year 1533 AD the island suffered a great destruction of the grain of the grain. On the 11th of August for the rescue of the island from a fierce attack by the Turks in 1716 AD. and on the first Sunday of November for the second plague epidemic in 1673 AD.

Sunrise: 07:32 – Sunset: 17:06
11.5 day moon