St. Spyridon December 12 As a child, Spyridon lived with his family in a remote area on the island of Cyprus. With no school for miles around, Spyridon turned to his countryside church. Though illiterate like most, he demonstrated remarkable intelligence and was able to memorize long passages from the Bible only by listening. Spyridon's parents recognized his talent and love for Christ and arranged, through their priest, for Spyridon to begin religious training. Spyridon was ordained to the priesthood after the turn of the fourth century. His first act as priest was to turn his rural church into a school, so that the children would grow up, unlike himself, with an education, if only learning to read and write. Spyridon was a good and faithful priest and was soon appointed bishop of his province, where he became known to a greater circle of Christians. When he could get away from his duties, he enjoyed tending sheep on the hillside of his childhood home. In 325, St. Spyridon was sent to the Synod of Nicaea, at the request of Emperor Constantine. There, Spyridon met St. Nicholas, and that meeting turned into a lifelong friendship, one which filters down to us as part of the rich tradition of Orthodoxy. St. Spyridon was instrumental in reconciling many differences, and contributed to a successful conclusion to the most important council in early Church history. Like Nicholas, Spyridon was persecuted for his Christian beliefs and was unlawfully put in prison, beaten and lost sight in one eye as a result. As punishment, rather than executing him, the Romans sentenced him to a life of misery as a slave in the mines. There, our gentle bishop lived in squalor and agony for many years before he fell asleep in the Lord. Through his love for Christ, his last words were in praise of our Lord. His body was thrown in a ditch and recovered by friends for a Christian burial. Today, St. Spyridon's body remains intact on the island of Corfu, off the western coast of Greece. Every year, St. Spyridon's body is carried in a solemn procession of triumph through the streets on his feast day. Close Window