St. Spyridon the Wonderworker and the Deceitful Merchant from Tremithus
The Deceitful Merchant
There was a
merchant from Tremithus who had the practice of borrowing money from Saint
Spyridon in order to purchase wares on his travels. After returning home, he
would return what he had borrowed. Because the bishop paid little attention to
money, he always told the merchant to put the money back into the box from
which he had taken it himself. He never bothered to watch or control the
merchant to see how much money he took from the box or how much he returned to
it.
This practice
continued for quite some time: the merchant, with the saint’s blessing, took
the money himself and, upon returning from his travels, put back what he had
taken, unsupervised. As long as he acted honestly, his business prospered.
With the
acquisition of money the sin of greed and avarice often follow. The merchant
was finally blinded, like Judas, with love for money, and one time he did not
return what he had taken. He kept the secret to himself and lied to the saint,
saying that he had put back exactly what he had borrowed, as always. But
shortly after this, his business failed: not only did the money borrowed from
the bishop not earn him anything, but all his wares were lost in a fire that
consumed everything he had.
The merchant, in
poverty, again turned to Bishop Spyridon asking him to loan him the resources so
that he could again invest in some goods. The bishop told him to go into the
room where the box of money was kept and take what he needed himself, saying,
“Go and take what you need from what you put there last time.”
The merchant went,
but found no money at all. He faced the bishop empty-handed.
Spyridon said to
him, “Brother, believe me when I say that no one else has put his hand into
that box since the last time you were here. If you had returned the money, you
would now be able to borrow from it.”
The merchant was
ashamed of what he had done and humbled himself before the saint, asking for
forgiveness. Saint Spyridon at once forgave him and instructed him not to again
covet what does not belong to him nor to darken his own conscience with
wickedness and lies, for these are the results of one who earns a living
dishonestly and are not rewards but punishments.
***
The Psalmist says
“Wonderful is God in his saints.” God, indeed, is surrounded by those who led
holy lives here on earth. Just as He heard and accepted their prayers during
their earthly lives, so He also accepts their prayers now, and answers them.
Saint Spyridon
loved and prayed for his faithful during his life of ministry to them. His
earthly departure did not put an end to his love for those who turn to him for
help.
Thousands of people
come before his reliquary each year to pray for his intercessions and
assistance. The miracles attributed to him are countless.
One sign of the
saint’s continuing care for the faithful is clear: often when the serving
priests in the church open his reliquary, the body is gone. Later, when they
open it again, they find he has returned. This is not a rare incident, but
happens, even in our own time, repeatedly. Another indication of this miracle
is that each year, on the day of his commemoration, December 12, the footwear
on his body are completely worn out. The serving priests literally change the
saint’s shoes every year, only to find them worn out again the next year. It is
often not unusual for the priests, on touching the saints feet as they change
his shoes, to find the body pliable and warm, not hard and cold like that of a
corpse.
***
Elder, could St.
Spyridon have asked from God that his Relic remain incorrupt?
- No, how could that
have happened? The Saints don’t ask for such things. God willed that his Relic
remain incorrupt in order to help people. And behold how God arranges things!
Because Kerkyra (Corfu), Cephalonia and Zakynthos are near Italy, and that it
would be easy for people to be seduced by Catholicism, He placed a great
barrier there: St. Spyridon, St. Gerasimos and St. Dionysios.
Amateur translation
from Source: Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, Words VI, On Prayer. The Holy
Hesychasterion “St. John the Theologian”, Souroti, Thessaloniki
Troparion (Tone 1)
You
were revealed as a champion of the first council,
And
as a wonderworker O God-inspired Spyridon, our Father.
Wherefore
you spoke to one who was dead in a tomb,
And
you changed a serpent into gold.
And
when chanting your prayers, O holy one, angels were your concelebrants.
Glory
to Him who glorified you!
Glory
to Him who granted you a crown!
Glory
to Him who through you grants healing to all!
Source:
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/st-spyridon-the-wonderworker-and-bishop-of-tremithus-and-the-deceitful-merchant/
