Saint Achilleus, Bishop of Larissa

Life

This great hierarch and wonderworker was born in Cappadocia. He participated in the First Ecumenical Council, at which he put the heretics to shame and, both by his learning and by his holiness, evoked great admiration. Taking up a stone, Saint Achilleus cried out to the Arians: "If Christ is a creature of God, as you say, then speak: let oil flow from this stone!" The heretics were silent and marveled at such a challenge from Saint Achilleus. Then the saint said again: "But if the Son of God is equal to the Father, as we believe, let oil flow from this stone." And oil indeed flowed forth, to the amazement of all. Saint Achilleus reposed peacefully in Larissa in the year 330. Samuel, the Macedonian king, when he conquered Thessaly, translated the relics of Achilleus to Prespa, to an island in the lake, which was called and to this day is called Achilleus, or Ail.