Saint Spyridon (Grygorenko) Icon - S718

Saint Spyridon was from Cyprus, where he worked as a shepherd. After the death of his wife, he was appointed Bishop of Trimythus. At the First Ecumenical Council, he refuted the Arians using his simple wisdom. God granted him the gift of wonderworking, and he continued to lead his flock until his repose about the year 350. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, his incorrupt relics were taken to the island of Corfu in northwestern Greece, where they remain to this day. 

In this particular icon, Spyridon is seen blessing a man who is picking up snakes off the ground. This pertains to the following story about a miracle achieved by Spyridon: There once a famine in the land, and a starving man begged food of Spyridon. The man had no money, and the local merchant was withholding his available supply of food from the man. Spyridon in the kindness of his heart wanted to help the man, so he took a serpent which was passing by and turned it into a gold coin for the man to use to pay for a meal. 

His feast is celebrated on December 12. On August 11, we commemorate his miraculous intercession which prevented the Turkish invasion of Corfu in 1716.

This portrait icon features Saint Spyridon in his distinctive straw hat worn by shepherds and farmers in his time.

This icon is offered by Legacy Icons with the permission of the iconographer, Vladimir Grygorenko.