St. Sophianos of Dryinoupolis
(Feast Day - November 26)
Saint Sophianos was an
important religious figure of his time in the region of Epirus, and is
considered the precursor of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos (Aug. 24). He was probably
born in the village of Polytsani, in the Pogon region of Northern Epirus. At
the time he became Bishop of Dryinoupolis* (modern southwest Albania) the
religious composition of the region was changing due to massive conversions to
Islam.
In 1672 he founded a Greek
school in the local Monastery of Saint Athanasios. In recognition of the danger
that Christianity was shrinking, Sophianos resigned his bishopric and became a
monk a few months prior to his repose in 1711, thus becoming a wandering
missionary, preaching from village to village.
Because of his pious character
he was respected and honored by both Christians and Muslims. There was the case
of a young Muslim girl who desperately appealed to the Saint, unable to find
her embroidered with gold coins fez. After fervent prayer it was revealed to
him that the fez was in the nest of a stork, indicating the exact spot where
she later found it, in gratitude to the Bishop.
Another miracle of his from
historical sources and oral testimonies, speaks of a traveler who visited the
Monastery of Saint Athanasios. There the monks were talking about a certain
miracle, and Saint Sophianos was present among them, who listened attentively.
The traveler initially seemed skeptical about this narration of the monk and
then strongly expressed his disbelief. The Saint then ordered a young monk to
go to the fireplace and get three pieces of cherry wood which were burned. He
asked the stranger and unbelieving traveler along with the monk to follow him
to the courtyard, and taking an ax he planted the three burned pieces of wood.
He then told the traveler that these would bloom and bear fruit next spring,
and by this God would empirically show how the reported miracle narrated by the
monk was absolutely true. And indeed by his prayers the miracle happened. The
burned wood caught root, and the leaves and berries blossomed as he foretold.
Till this day it is found in the courtyard of the Monastery, which today
carries the name Monastery of Saints Athanasios and Sophianos.
Saint Sophianos' last days
were spent in the Monastery of Saint Athanasios in his hometown of Polican
(Pogon), where he taught Orthodoxy and letters to the village children. He
reposed on 26 November 1711. His sacred skull and relics are kept in ornate
containers, which were transferred for security reasons from the Monastery of
the Saint by the revered priest of the village Fr. Euthymios Kalamas, and they
were brought to the Church of the Archangels in Polytsani, and are still kept
there today as a source of sanctification and blessing.
Notes:
* From the Roman period there
was a fortified settlement named Hadrianoupolis in the region, named after the
Roman emperor Hadrian. During the 6th century the Roman Emperor Justinian I, as
part of his fortification plans against barbarian invasions, moved the
settlement 4 kilometers southeast in the modern village of Peshkëpi, in order
to gain a more secure position. The city is also referred in Roman sources as
Ioustinianoupolis. During the 11th century the city was named Dryinoupolis, a
name possibly deriving from its former name or from the nearby river. It was
also, from the 5th century, the see of a bishopric (initially part of the
Diocese of Nicopolis, Nafpaktos and then Ioannina).
Apolytikion
Anointed with the myrrh of the
hierarchy, you showed yourself to be a notable chief priest and inspiring
healer of Christ to all, and you wisely shepherded the people of the Lord,
Venerable Sophianos, through words and deeds, and now you entreat Christ at all
times, to have mercy on those who bless you.
Megalynarion
Showing yourself to be the
sacred shepherd of Dryinoupolis, like the Hierarchs of old imitating them in
all things, all-blessed Sophianos, by your inspired success you were magnified.
wrote:http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2016/11/saint-sophianos-bishop-of-dryinoupolis.html?m=1
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