Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus

Life

Born a Jew, but seeing the power of the faith of Christ, he was baptized together with his sister Callithropia. In his twenty-sixth year he was tonsured a monk in the monastery of Saint Hilarion. Later he founded a separate monastery, where he became renowned throughout all Palestine and Egypt for his ascetical struggle, spiritual wisdom, and wonderworking. Fleeing from the glory of men, he withdrew to Egypt. On the way he met the great Paphnutius, who prophesied to him that he would become a hierarch on the island of Cyprus. And indeed, after many years, by the Providence of God, Epiphanius came to Cyprus, where he was suddenly elected bishop. In his sixtieth year he became bishop in the city of Salamis, and as bishop he governed the Church of God for fifty-five years. In all he lived on earth one hundred and fifteen years, and he reposed from this life to live eternally in the kingdom of Christ. Before his death he was summoned to Constantinople by Emperor Arcadius and his wife Eudoxia for a council of bishops, which was intended, according to the wishes of the emperor and empress, to condemn Saint John Chrysostom. Having arrived in Constantinople, he went to the imperial court, where the emperor and empress detained him at length, urging him to declare himself against Chrysostom. The citizens heard, and Chrysostom himself heard, that Epiphanius had agreed with the emperor against Chrysostom. Therefore Chrysostom wrote him a letter: "Brother Epiphanius, I have heard that you have advised the emperor to banish me; know that you too will never see your throne again." To this Epiphanius replied: "O suffering John, endure insults; know that you too will not reach the place to which they are banishing you." — And both of these saintly prophecies were quickly fulfilled: not wishing in any way to agree with the emperor on the banishment of Chrysostom, Epiphanius secretly boarded a ship and set out for Cyprus, but he died on the ship; and the emperor drove Chrysostom into exile in Armenia, but this saint died along the way. Saint Epiphanius reposed in the year 403. Of the many works of Saint Epiphanius the best known is the Panarion (Medicine Chest), in which eighty heresies are set forth and refuted.

From the Hymn of Praise

Epiphanius, follower of Christ,Is nourished by bread and drinks water,By the power of Christ he works wonders,Like a thunderer he strikes down heresy,