Euphrosynos the Cook Icon - S262

A wonderful and beautiful icon, the perfect addition to your kitchen!

St. Euphrosynos is often found in Orthodox kitchens. His feast day is September 11th.

Euphrosynos fulfilled his monastic obedience in the kitchen as a cook for the brethren of the monastery. He continually dwelt in prayer and fasting. The brethren often mocked him, but he did not complain and endured every unpleasantness. St. Euphrosynos pleased the Lord by his inner virtue. One time, a priest of the monastery had a vision of a heavenly garden and in it he saw Euphrosynos. Amazed, the Priest asked Euphrosynos how he came to be there. The saint replied that he was in Paradise through the great mercy of God. The priest then asked if Euphrosynos would be able to give him something from the surrounding beauty. St. Euphrosynos suggested the priest take whatever he wished, and so the priest pointed to three luscious apples growing in the garden of Paradise. Euphrosynos picked the three apples, wrapped them in a kerchief and gave them to him.

When the priest awoke in the early morning, he initially thought the vision a dream, but suddenly he noticed next to him the cloth with the fruit of Paradise wrapped in it, emitting a wondrous fragrance.

Later, the priest related everything he had experienced to the brothers, pointing out the spiritual heights of Euphrosynos in pleasing God and to the fragrant fruit of Paradise. Deeply impressed by what they heard, the monks went to the kitchen to pay respect to St. Euphrosynos. But, they did not find him there. Fleeing human glory, Euphrosynos had fled the monastery. The place where he concealed himself remained unknown, but the monks always remembered that their monastic brother St. Euphrosynos had come upon Paradise.