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SPYRIDON, bishop of Trimythun in Cyprus, flourished at this
period. To show his virtues, I think the fame which still prevails
about him suffices. The wonderful works which he wrought by Divine
assistance are, it appears, generally known by those who dwell in the
same region. I shall not conceal the facts which have come to me.
He was a peasant, was married, and had children; yet was not, on
this account, deficient in spiritual attainments. It is related that
one night some wicked men entered his sheepfold, and were in the act of
stealing his sheep, when they were suddenly bound, and yet no one
bound them. The next day, when he went to the fold, he found them
fettered, and released them from their invisible bonds; but he
censured them for having preferred to steal what it was lawful for them
to win and take, and also for making such a great exertion by night:
yet he felt compassion towards them, and, desirous of affording them
instruction, so as to induce them to lead a better life, he said to
them, "Go, and take this ram with you; for you are wearied with
watching, and it is not just that your labor should be so blamed, that
you should return empty-handed from my sheepfold." This action is
well worthy admiration, but not less so is that which I shall now
relate. An individual confided a deposit to the care of his daughter,
who was a virgin, and was named Irene. For greater security, she
buried it; and it so happened that she died soon after, without
mentioning the circumstance to any one. The person to whom the deposit
belonged came to ask for it. Spyridon knew not what answer to give
him, so he searched the whole house for it; but not being able to find
it, the man wept, tore his hair, and seemed ready to expire.
Spyridon, moved with pity, went to the grave, and called the girl by
name; and when she answered, he inquired about the deposit. After
obtaining the information desired, he returned, found the treasure in
the place that had been signified to him, and gave it to the owner.
As I have entered upon this subject, it may not be amiss to add this
incident also.
It was a custom with this Spyridon to give a certain portion of his
fruits to the poor, and to lend another portion to those who wished it
as a gratuity; but neither in giving nor taking back did he ever
himself distribute or receive he merely pointed out the storehouse, and
told those who resorted to him to take as much as they needed, or to
restore what they had borrowed. A certain man who had borrowed in this
way, came as though he were about to return it, and when as usual he
was directed to replace his loan in the storehouse, he saw an
opportunity for an injustice; imagining that the matter would be
concealed, he did not liquidate the debt, but fraudulently pretending
to have discharged his obligation, he went away as though he had made
the return. This, however, could not be long concealed. After some
time the man came back again to borrow, and was sent to the
storehouse, with permission to measure out for himself as much as he
required. Finding the storehouse empty, he went to acquaint
Spyridon, and this latter said to him, "I wonder, O man, how it
is that you alone have found the storehouse empty and unsupplied with
the articles you require: reflect whether you have restored the first
loan, since you are in need a second time: were it otherwise, what
you seek would not be lacking. Go, trust, and you will find." The
man felt the reproof and acknowledged his error. The firmness and the
accuracy in the administration of ecclesiastical affairs on the part of
this divine man are worthy of admiration. It is said that on one
occasion thereafter, the bishops of Cyprus met to consult on some
particular emergency. Spyridon was present, as likewise
Triphyllius, bishop of the Ledri, a man otherwise eloquent, who on
account of practicing the law, had lived alone while at Berytus.
When an assembly had convened, having been requested to address the
people, Triphyllius had occasion, in the middle of his discourse, to
quote the text, "Take up thy bed and walk," and he substituted the
word "couch", for the word "bed". Spyridon was indignant, and
exclaimed, "Art thou greater than he who uttered the word 'bed,'
that thou art ashamed to use his words?" When he had said this, he
turned from the throne of the priest, and looked towards the p ple; by
this act he taught them to keep the man who is proud of eloquence within
bounds and he was fit to make such a rebuke; for he was reverenced and
most illustrious for his works: at the same time he was the superior of
that presbyter in age and in the priesthood.
The reception which Spyridon gave to strangers will appear from the
following incident. In the quadragesima, it happened that a traveler
came upon a journey to visit him on one of those days in which it was
his custom to keep a continuous fast with his household, and on the day
appointed for tasting food, he would remain without nourishment to
midday. Perceiving that the stranger was much fatigued, Spyridon
said to his daughter, "Come, wash his feet and set meat before
him." The virgin replying that there was neither bread nor
barley-food in the house, for it would have been superfluous to
provide such things at the time of the fast, Spyridon first prayed and
asked forgiveness, and bade her to cook some salt pork which chanced to
be in the house. When it was prepared, he sat down to table with the
stranger, partook of the meat, and told him to follow his example.
But the stranger declining, under the plea of being a Christian, he
said to him, "It is for that very reason that you ought not to
decline partaking of the meat; for the Divine word shows that to the
pure all things are pure." Such are the details which I had to
relate concerning Spyridon.
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