Hieromartyr Therapon, Bishop of Cyprus

Life

A monk and ascetic on the island of Cyprus; he was deemed worthy of the episcopal rank, but in the time of the persecution of Christians he was also deemed worthy of an even greater crown, the crown of martyrdom. His body rested in a church on Cyprus. When, in the time of Emperor Nicephorus in the year 806, the Hagarenes attacked the island of Cyprus, the saint appeared to the warden of that church, told him that the unbelievers would attack Cyprus, and commanded him to transfer his relics to Constantinople. The warden immediately did so. When the ship with the reliquary set out to sea, a great storm arose, but around the ship the sea was calm, and from the reliquary a fragrant scent spread throughout the whole ship and all around. Then the warden opened the reliquary, and all saw it filled with myrrh, which had poured from the relics of the saint. With this myrrh many sick people anointed themselves and were healed. In Constantinople a church was built over these wonderworking relics, which continued to give healing to all who drew near to them with faith. By the grace of God, the most severe cases were healed through the relics of Saint Therapon — those afflicted with paralysis, cancer, hemorrhaging, madness, blindness, withering, and various other afflictions.