St. Theophan the Myrrh-streaming
Bishop of Soleas, Archbishop of Cyprus
| Feast Date: | 17/05/2023 |
| Holiday type: | Fixed. It is celebrated on May 17 every year. |
| Saints who celebrate: | Saint Theophan the Myrrh-streaming Bishop of Soleas, Archbishop of Cyprus (? - 1550) |
| Last update: | 06/05/2010 14:53 |
Apolytikion
Redemption from the self-sacrificing, Father, almighty, while humiliating the world, you immediately died and rushed to the Mesa Potamos Monastery, where in the pains of others you found a source of sanctification; for, Theophan Father, think of us your servants and infuse with divine myrrh.
Kontakion
Oh Myrrh-streamer, the scents of the divine Spirit, and as the creator of miracles all scents, you provide abundantly to the honored ones; but for those who are alone, there is no one who is excellent, a guide of our generation to perfection, that we may cry: Hail Father Theophan.
The House
Abandoned with awe in your memory, Father, gathered to me, in hymns we grow old with longing for the warmth of your life all the septs and grace for grace we receive from you;
Hail, bright treasury of virtue,
Hail, container of God's understanding.
Hail, unfathomable depth,
Hail, unsurpassed height of perfection.
Hail, the myrrh of divine grace, who emanates marvelously,
Hail, type of resurrection, your tabernacle is glorious.
Hail, you who walk the path of immortality,
Hail, you who show the sign of incorruption.
Hail, the boast of Prodromos Monastery,
Hail, the one-way cry of life.
Hail, warm protector of the island of Cyprus,
Hail, our mediator to the Creator;
Hail Father Theophan.
Seat
Immerse yourself as a treasure in your sorrows, enriching with joy, erasing the poverty of passions and awarding the hope of life, in joy we warmly cry out to you: O Father, beseech Christ God to keep our lives in peace.
Biography
Theophanes, blessed desires to the Bride
of the world, you left the glory empty.
Rejoice, rejoice, Prodromos, the pen
I had as a protector of God.
Ἑβδοματῃ dekatῃ Theophanis Theῷ synekrathi.
Saint Theophanes lived in Cyprus during the time of its occupation by the Venetians (1489 - 1571 AD). We do not know information about his parents, world origin and education. The information we have is few, but important, because it is handed down by a contemporary of the Saint and an eyewitness to the exhumation of his holy relic, Stephen Lusignianos, consecrated Dominican monk and vicar of the Latin Archdiocese of Cyprus, in his work "The Landscape of the Island of Cyprus ». This work, which is considered an important source of information on the medieval history of Cyprus, he published first in Italian (1573 AD) and then in French (1580 AD). The second edition, which is more edited, complements the first.
Saint Theophanes loved Christ too much, left the world, became a monk and lived in the Monastery of Manganos, located in Nicosia, dedicated to Saint George. The Monastery existed since the Byzantine years, but it was renovated in 1453 AD. Helen Paleologina, wife of the King of Cyprus John II (1432 - 1458 AD) to house the priests who arrived in Cyprus after the fall of Constantinople. In 1567 AD the Venetians demolished the Monastery during the construction of the new fortifications of Nicosia.
The life of the monk Theophanis was exemplary. "As far as life is concerned, one could not find anything objectionable" reads the biographical note found in the above work. Despite the fact that he hid his virtues while living in obscurity and humiliation, the Lord revealed him to people. This is how he led the bishops of the time to elect him, against his will, as Archbishop of Cyprus. He accepted this office with great difficulty. Because the Latin Archbishop was established in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, Saint Theophanes bore the title bishop of Soleas and commander of the Greeks of Nicosia.
At the time of the Venetian rule, the Greek bishops were not allowed to live in the big cities of Cyprus, where the seats of their metropolitans were, but in villages. During the Turkish occupation, the Archbishop returned from Solea to Nicosia, the Metropolitan of Paphos from Arsinoi to Ktima, that of Limassol from Lefkara to Limassol and that of Famagusta from Karpasia to Famagusta.
Agios Theofanis separated from the quietness and carelessness of the solitary state that he desired and followed the will of God which was expressed at that moment by his election as high priest. The phrase "commander of the Greeks of Nicosia" in his title reveals the authority granted to him by the Venetians to regulate some of the internal issues and problems of the enslaved Greeks.
We do not know how long he remained in his episcopal office. An unexpected, unusual and paradoxical incident led him to tender his resignation, which was hardly accepted. "One day he reprimanded his steward - which is the highest church office after the bishop - because he had made a mistake in something. The steward, who was a very proud and insolent man, slapped him in front of the people. The bishop then, seeing the very serious and unfortunate (unpleasant) act towards him and considering himself completely unworthy of the position he held, went to meet the archbishop (of the Latins), in whose hands he deposited his diocese (the his resignation from his episcopal office)" writes the French text of "Tography of the island of Cyprus". Saint Theophanes begged with tears to accept his resignation. At first he met the refusal of the Venetian authorities, a sign of the respect they had for the face of the saint and the recognition of his virtue. But after the persistence of the saint, they accepted her.
The innocent, humble and meek bishop did not get angry, did not ask for revenge or punishment of the steward for the disrespect and contempt of his high priestly office. He considered himself unworthy to hold the position of bishop because of his great humiliation. This attitude of his reveals the height of his virtue and holiness.
After accepting his resignation he satisfied his inner desire for the quiet life. He got away from the worldly noises of the cities by taking refuge in a Monastery in Mesa Potamos, in the mountains of Troodos. According to information, Archim. Nicodemus, Exarch of the Metropolis of Kiti in Limassol, the holy Theophanis was also abbot of the Monastery. After that he actually went up and lived in a cell about 87 meters higher than the Monastery and therefore this location received the name "Monastery of Goumeno". There he lives alone a life of holiness and the Lord after his sleep gives him the gift of miracles, as the monks of the Monastery testify.
Only the following incident is handed down from his life. "One night he dreamed that a friend of his brought him a pot of honey. In the morning, as soon as he woke up, there was his friend with the pot full of honey. So the bishop, after graciously and gratefully accepting the honey, then threw it against the wall and the honey poured out. He told his friend that he did this because he didn't want to let the devil make him believe in dreams." Dealing with temptation reveals the depth of the Saint's spiritual work. He rejects the calculus of the devil who tries to suggest to him that he has acquired the prescient gift.
He slept a dying death. Neophytos Rodinos, a Cypriot scholar, in his work "About heroes, strategems" (Kypriaka Chronicles, year III, 1925, p.27) writes that "Theophanis monachos, ...died in the afn' (1550)".
After 4 or 6 years, his remains were collected which were found incorruptible and fragrant with the Grace of God, signs of certification and manifestation by God of his holiness. The relic was placed in the monastery's katholikon and the honor was placed in a silver case. "I saw the exhumation and the bones mixed with earth, which indeed gave off a fragrance, but not of the dead," says the Italian text of "Painting". "The monks of that place (Monastery) affirm that this holy man had performed many miracles; thus, they collected his relics and placed his coffin in a silver case. I can confirm this because I saw it with my own eyes," says the French version.
The memory of St. Theophanis was preserved throughout the Turkish rule and many ecclesiastical writers of the time emphasize his ascetic and virtuous life.
In 1999 AD in the church of the village of Treis Elies, which belongs to the Metropolis of Morphou (old Soli or Solea), an icon of the year 1689 AD was found, the work of the iconographer Leonti from Limassol, with the inscription "Saint Theophanes the New", which must depict the holy Theophanes as the bishop of Solon, as long as the depicted saint wears hierarchal garb. Today this icon is in the Episcopate of the Metropolis of Morphou in Evrycho. This also demonstrates the preservation of the memory of the saint among the inhabitants of the villages of Cyprus during the period of the Turkish occupation (1571 - 1878 AD).
Where are the holy relics of the Saint today? No one knows. It is possible that the Fathers of the Monastery, in order to protect them from the Turkish invaders, hid them in an unknown place without leaving any information about the place.
