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[[Image:Spyridon.jpg|right|frame|St. Spyridon of Trimythous]]
Our father among the saints [[saint]]s '''Spyridon of Trimythous the Wonderworker''' (Greek: Σπυρίδων ca. 270-348) was a 4th 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, Cyprus (348 AD). He was a peasant farmer and shepherd and had no education. Spyridon was married and had a daughter, Irene. After his wife died, he and 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 was greatly known.
He is the [[patron saint]] of potters (from the miracle of the potsherd).
==Persecutions and witness to Orthodox Faith==
During the Maximilian persecutions (295 AD) he was arrested and exiled. In 325 AD, he was present at the [[First Ecumenical Council]] of Nicea [[Nicaea]] 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 Nicaea 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 NiceaNicaea, he met St. [[Nicholas of Myra]], with whom he formed a lasting friendship.
==Miracles==
Through simplicity and deep devotion to God, he worked miracles throughout his life and became known as a great [[wonder-worker]], calling forth rain in the midst of drought, casting out demons with a single word, healing the sick and even raising people from the dead, in addition to having the gift of prescience.
When he arrived back home from Nicea Nicaea 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.
Also during a famine Spyridon changed a snake into gold pieces so that a poor man could buy food from a greedy merchant who had cornered the supply.
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.
==Departure and relics==
