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==Life==
Little is known of the life of St. Achillius. He is the first recorded [[bishop]] of Larisa, Achillius who apparently was named the Bishop of Larisa in Thessaly in central Greece after emperor Constantine I became the Emperor of the Roman Empire. He participated in the proceedings of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea. He was noted for his vehement defense of [[orthodoxy]] during the Council where he boldly denounced the [[heretic]] [[Arius]] when he took up a stone and called to the [[Arianism|Arians]], saying, "If [[Christ]] is a creature of God, as you say, tell oil to flow from this stone." The [[heretic]]s kept silent, amazed at this demand by St. Achillius. Then, Achillius continued, "And if the Son of God is equal to the Father, as we believe, then let oil flow from this stone." There upon oil flowed from the stone, to the amazement of all. <ref>[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.cgi Saint Achilleus, Bishop of Larissa May 15, Prologue of Nikolai Velimirovch]</ref>
In his city, Achillius is reputed to have destroyed many pagan temples, built and adorned many [[church]]es, and cast out many demons. Achilles had the gift of healing sickness, especially demonic possession. He also worked many miracles. Bp. Achillius died peacefully in Larisa about the year 330.
