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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 continuted in piety, to which he was greatly known for.
He is the [[Patron Saint|patron saint]] of potters (from the miracle of the potsherd).
==Persecutions and witness to Orthodox Faith==
To this day St. Spyridon's incorrupt [[relics]] at his shrine in Corfu continue to manifest the power of God, wondrous in His saints. He is called the "walking [[saint]]" because the silk slippers which clothe the feet of his relics wear out each year and are replaced on his [[feast day]]. He is commemorated by the Church on [[December 12]]. His Miracle in Corfu against the Turkish invasion of 1716 is commemorated on [[August 11]].
==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 patron and he remains so in both branched to this day. There are stories that say, that the Grand Prince of Muscovy Basil II(1425-1462) gave a gold cross to Andrei, with relics of the saint inside. This apparantly survives and is owned by Count Nikolai Tolstoy, the most senior member of the Tolstoy family.
==Sources and further details==
