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[[Image:Spyridon.jpg|right|frame|St. Spyridon of Trimythous]]Our father among the saints [[saint]]s '''Spyridon of Trimythousthe Wonderworker''' (Greek: Σπυρίδων ca. 270-348) was a fourth century [[bishop]] who was present at the [[First Ecumenical Council]]. He is also commonly referred to in Corfu as ''Keeper of the City'' (Greek: ο πολιούχος), since he is also the [[patron saint]] of that island (this is where his [[relics]] are located and venerated). He is commemorated by the church on [[December 12]]. Spyridon was born in the village of Ashia (''askia'' - "without shade"), Cyprus (270 AD) and died in Trimythous in , Cyprus in 270 (348 AD). He had no education. Like his parents, he was a peasant farmer and shepherdand was not educated. Spyridon was married and had a daughter, and even after Irene. After his wife died , he and he his daughter both entered into [[monasticism]]. He later became the [[Bishop]] of Trimythous (during the reign of [[Constantine the Great]]), and continued in piety for which he did little to change his humble way was greatly known. He is the patron saint of potters (from the miracle of livingthe potsherd).

During the Maximilian persecutions (295 AD) he was arrested and exiled. In 325 AD, he was present at the [[First Ecumenical Councilof [[Nicea]] of Nicea where he astonished many with his simple explanations of the [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] Faith. Though not well-educated, he surprised everyone at the Council of Nicea by converting a famous philosopher to Orthodoxy from [[Arianism]]. He explained the unity and diversity of the Trinity by holding up a brick, then commonly thought to be a combination of the elements fire, earth and water; as he spoke, fire blazed from the top of the brick while water gushed out underneath. There too, at Nicea, he met St. [[Nicholas of Myra]], with whom he formed a lasting friendship.

When he arrived back home from Nicea a woman told him that she had given his daughter, who had died while he was away, some jewelry for safekeeping. Now that his daughter was dead, no one could find where she had put them. Spyridon went to his daughter's grave, spoke to her, and was able to restore the jewelry to its owner.

One day there was only himself and the [[deacon ]] and readers in church at [[vespers]], and the responses could be heard beautifully chanted by an unseen choir. The music was so beautiful that others, passing by, heard it and saw through the windows what seemed like a large congregation. Entering the church, however, they found only St. Spyridon and his assistants.

[[Image:Spyridon slippers.jpg|right|thumb|250px|One of the pairs of St. Spyridon's slippers, housed at the cathedral dedicated to him in Worcester, Massachusetts]]St. Spyridon lived most of his earthly life in Cyprus, where he also reposed in 348 AD and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Trimythous. When the Saracens took the island, the Cypriots opened his grave in order to remove his sacred bones to Constantinople. They found that his body had remained intact, while from the grave emanated a scent of basil, true signs of the sainthood he had shown during his lifetime. When Constantinople fell in 1453, he was transferred to Serbia, then a Corfiot elder, Georgios Kalohairetis, brought him to the island of Corfu in Greece where he is currently buried.

When the Saracens took the island, the Cypriots opened To this day St. Spyridon's [[Incorruptibility|incorrupt]] [[relics]] at his grave [[shrine]] in order to remove his sacred bones Corfu continue to Constantinople. They found that his body had remained intact, while from manifest the grave emanated a scent power of basilGod, true signs wondrous in His saints. He is called the "walking [[saint]]" because the silk slippers which clothe the feet of the sainthood he had shown during his lifetimerelics wear out each year and are replaced on his [[feast day]]. When Constantinople fell His miracle in 1453, he was transferred to Serbia, then a Corfiot elder, Georgios Kalohairetis, brought him to Corfu against the island Turkish invasion of Corfu in Greece where he 1716 is currently burriedcommemorated on [[August 11]].

To this day ==Other information==* '''The Tolstoy family story''' - The Tolstoy family, have also adopted St. Spyridon as their patron saint. In the 15th century, Andrei Tolstoy chose the saint as the family's incorrupt [[relics]] at his shrine patron and he remains so in Corfu continue both branched to manifest this day. There are stories that say, that the power Grand Prince of GodMuscovy Basil II(1425-1462) gave a gold cross to Andrei, wondrous in His saints. He is called with relics of the "walking [[saint]]" because the silk slippers which clothe the feet of his relics wear out each year inside. This apparently survives and are replaced on his [[feast day]]. He is commemorated owned by Count Nikolai Tolstoy, the most senior member of the Church on [[December 12]]Tolstoy family.

==Sourcesand further details==

* "[http://www.saintspiridon.org/?page_id=23 ''Life of St. Spiridon's Cathedral, A Century in Seattle''"], ed. Alan Mack, (c) 1995 St. Spiridon'* https://web.archive.org/web/20030418082047/http://www.terrakerkyra.gr/history/en/pisti/* [[w:Saint Spyridon|Saint Spyridon (Wikipedia)]]* Icons: [http://www.iconograms.org/sig.php?eid=332], [http://www.iconograms.org/sig.php?eid=705]*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/s Cathedral/inp123.htm Icon of St.Spyridon]