December 25 / December 12
1. Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus (348)
The island of Cyprus was both the birthplace and the place where this glorious saint served the Church. Spyridon was born of simple parents, farmers, and he remained simple and humble until his death. He married in his youth and had children, but when his wife died he devoted himself completely to the service of God. Because of his exceptional piety, he was chosen as bishop of the city of Tremithus. Yet even as a bishop he did not change his simple way of living, handling his livestock and cultivating his land himself. He used very little of the fruits of his labor for himself; instead, he distributed a greater share to the needy. He manifested great miracles by God’s power: he brought down rain in time of drought, stopped the flow of a river, raised several people from the dead, healed Emperor Constantius of a grave illness, saw and heard angels of God, foresaw future events, discerned the secrets of men’s hearts, converted many to the true Faith, and did much else. He took part in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea [325], and he brought many heretics back to Orthodoxy by his simple and clear ex- positions of the Faith as well as by his mighty miracles. He was so simply dressed that once, when he wanted to enter the imperial court at the invitation of the emperor, a soldier, thinking that he was a beggar, struck him on the face. Meek and guileless, Spyridon turned the other cheek to him. He glorified God through many miracles and was of benefit, not only to many individuals but also to the whole Church of God. He entered into rest in the Lord in the year 348. His miracle-working relics rest on the island of Corfu, and even today they glorify God with many miracles.
2. The Holy Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem (251)
At first, Alexander was the Bishop of Cappadocia, but during the persecution under Severus in the year 203 he was cast into prison and then exiled. Afterward, he accepted the patriarchal throne of Jerusalem. He founded the famous Jerusalem Library, which Eusebius used when he wrote his Ecclesiastical History. He was tortured in various ways during the reign of Decius and thrown to wild beasts. Remaining alive and untouched by the beasts, he was cast into prison, where he ended his earthly life and went to the Lord in the year 251.
3. The Holy Martyr Synesius of Rome (270-275)
As a young reader in Rome, he boldly preached the truth of Christ and denounced idolaters. For this, he was tortured and beheaded during the reign of Emperor Aurelian.
- Finian of Clonard and Skellig Michael, teacher of Ireland (549).
- Colman of Glendalough (Ireland) (659).
- Monk-martyr John, abbot, of Zedazeni Monastery, Georgia (9th ).
- John, metropolitan of Zichon, founder of the Monastery of the Forerunner on Mt. Menikion (1333).
- Therapontus, monk of Monza Monastery (Galich) (1597).
- Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836).
- Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American land: Hieromartyr Juvenaly (1796), Peter the Aleut (1815), and Hieromartyrs Seraphim, archbishop of Uglich (1937), John, priest, of Chicago (1917), and Alexander, priest, of New York (1937).
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus
Star of Cyprus and luminary of the Church,
Holy Spyridon, defender of the Faith,
Simple as a child, innocent as a child—
By his simplicity, he shines on the world.
What need is there for many words when speaking the truth?
Utterly simple is God’s truth:
The Creator is One, in the Holy Trinity,
In the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit.
The Son descended to the sinful earth
And received flesh from the Pure Virgin
In order to save men,
because He is the Lover of Mankind.
He performed many miracles
By divine power, for He is Almighty.
To mankind He gave a new rule,
The rule of love and the rule of faith.
Glorified, He now sits in heaven,
And gathers the fruit of His labor.
The sweet fruits of His labor
Are holy men and holy women.
He is the Rock of mankind’s salvation;
Outside this Rock there is no salvation.
O Spyridon, O illuminator,
O soldier of Christ, pray for us.
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