Saint Spyridon Face

Orthodox Icon Saint Spyridon Face in natural rombolo pine wood. This Icon is handcrafted on canvas by a craftsman and embossed according to the style and tradition of Byzantine art.

Agios Spyridon, of Cypriot origin, is an important figure in Christianity, particularly connected to the city and island of Corfu, of which he is the patron saint. He is also the patron saint of Piraeus. His memory is celebrated on December 12 by the Orthodox Church and on December 14 by the Catholic Church. According to ecclesiastical tradition, Saint Spyridon was born around 270 in Askia, today’s Assia Famagusta, located in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

He came from a humble family and was rather wealthy by the standards of the time, since he owned agricultural land and flocks of sheep. At the urging of his parents, he married a virtuous fellow villager, with whom he had a daughter, named Irini. His grammatical knowledge was limited, but thanks to his virtue and his perfect Christian life, he was elected bishop of Trimythoundos (present-day Tremetousia of Larnaca).

Spyridon as bishop of Trimythoundos participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325), which shaped the Christian doctrine , and distinguished himself as a severe critic of Arius. In fact, he worked miracles, trying to refute the heretic Arius, who was spreading that Christ is not the Son of God, but a creation of God, questioning the fundamental doctrine of the Holy Trinity for Christianity. To prove the groundlessness of Arius’s claims, he put his left hand into his pocket and took out a tile. Showing it to those present at the Synod, he made the sign of the cross with his right hand and said: – “In the name of the Father”.

The fathers watching the scene are literally shocked. Because with the words of Spyridon, the fire with which the tile was baked went up. – “And of the Son”, he added. Then the water with which the tile was fermented ran down. – “And of the Holy Spirit” he added and the soil remained in his hand.

Source: https://www.sansimera.gr/biographies/741