St. Dionysios of Zakynthos

"THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE FOREVER"

THE LIFE OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS
DIONYSIOS OF ZAKYNTHOS
ARCHBISHOP OF AEGINA, who is commemorated on the 17th of December

Translated from the Greek by the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston

ST. DIONYSIOS OF ZAKYNTHOS

TROPARION, TONE 1

LET ALL US the faithful honor with one accord Dionysios+ the offspring of Zakynthos,+ the president of ;gina,+ and the protector of the Monastery of Strophada.+ And let us cry unto him sincerely:+ By thy prayers save those who celebrate thy memory, and cry unto thee.+ Glory to Christ Who hath glorified thee;+ glory to Him Who hath made thee wondrous;+ glory to Him Who hath granted thee unto us as an unsleeping intercessor.


Abandoning the things of earth below, Dionysios the New, The boast of Zakynthos, doth dwell now in the heavens.

DIONYSIOS, OUR DIVINE FATHER, was born in 1547 on the renowned island of Zakynthos (Zante), from pious, illustrous parents. His father, who was of the family of Sigouros,1 was named Mokios, and his mother's name was Paulina.

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1. According to island records, the Saint's family came to Zakynthos from Normandy in the 12th century. With the passage of years, most of the Sigouros family adopted the Orthodox Faith, and it was from this branch of the family that St Dionysios descended.


When he reached school age, he was taken to God-fearing and wise teachers, and, intelligent as he was, in a short time he learned all the subjects that were necessary to enlighten his mind. Thus, he came to understand the deception of the world, the immortality of the soul, and the futility of this fleeting life. Since he progressed daily in virtue and in reverence for God, he determined to become a soldier of Christ, the Heavenly King, so that he might be able to conquer the three deadly enemies, that is, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and thus enjoy the incorruptible crown of glory as a trophy-bearing victor.

But since worldly cares and the turmoil of earthly affairs hindered him from his God-fearing purpose, he decided to flee far from the confusion of the world, so that he might be able to set his mind on heavenly things, and with his whole heart worship God, his Creator and Redeemer.

Having denied, then, native land, parents, nobility, riches, glory and all the enjoyments of the world, he hastened like a winged eagle to the royal monastery of Strophada,1 which lies opposite Zakynthos, on the southern side, being some forty miles distant. He arrived there full of spiritual gladness, and upon completing the prescribed time of the novitiate in accordance with the canons of the monastic rule, he was given the Angelic Habit of the monks by the abbot.

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1. A monastery is referred to as "royal" when it has been founded by an imperial grant or decree. Thus, all the monasteries of the Holy Mount, Athos, are "royal" in that they have been founded by pious emperors and princes, whether of Byzantium, Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia or Russia.


Though young in years, yet in virtues he surpassed even the most elderly and virtuous fathers of that venerable monastery. He kept vigil the greater part of the night, spending his time in the reading of spiritual books, and in hymns and praises to God. He bridled and tamed the passionate desires of the flesh with long fasts. Bringing to mind the nothingness of human nature, he conquered the demon of pride by his extreme humility. Though he was of an illustrious family, he considered himself the lowest and unworthiest of all. Hence, all the fathers of the monastery had him as their rule of virtue and icon of righteousness, and cach of them sought to imitate him, each according to his strength. Having, then, been shown forth to the elders as one tested, he was raised by degrees to the honor of the priesthood, so that he might offer unto God acceptable prayers and the bloodless sacrifice, for the salvation of the world.

After this, he wished to visit the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Upon receiving permission from the abbot and the brotherhood, he left and went to the Cyclades Islands and to the Dodecanese in order to be able, in this manner, to find a ship more easily for his journey to the Holy Land.

While going about those islands in search of a ship to complete his journey, he passed by Athens, and, in accordance with ecclesiastical rules, went to pay his respects to the local bishop. The bishop, having heard the good report of Dionysios, constrained him to accept the then vacant position of the diocese of ;gina. But humbleminded and meek as he was, the Saint excused himself, saying that he was not worthy of such an undertaking, that is, to take upon himself such care for the souls of the faithful. But that wise and prudent bishop who had heard previously of Dionysios' virtues, was now convinced of the truthfulness of the report by the Saint's modesty, and he constrained him to such a degree so as to make him accept, so that he might not appear to be disobedient to the orders of the bishop.

Having gained the consent of the Saint, the bishop wrote immediately to the clergy and people of ;gina, and made manifest the worthiness of the candidate. He told them that only after being compelled and after many requests and spiritual exhortations was the Saint swayed, and had agreed to lead them. With one accord, all received him as their shepherd and teacher, and they glorified and thanked God Who had provided and sent them such a God-fearing and saintly man as a leader and guide.

Thus, in accordance with the sacred canons of the Great Church, he was ordained Metropolitan of ;gina. Every believer can well imagine how great was the joy of all the people of ;gina that day. Having therefore, been entrusted in this manner with the care of this rational flock, he never ceased from teaching daily with sacred sermons, with admonitions and with edifying examples.


The island of Zakynthos as it must have looked in the lifetime of St. Dionysios-from a 17th-century sketch


BUT SINCE HIS FAME spread abroad and, even as a magnet attracts iron, all were drawn to him that they might hear his divinelywise words, after having administered the affairs of the Church for a considerable time, he feared lest the praise of men, which exalted him so highly, might cast him down into the pit of vainglory. Thus he decided to resign from his see. After he had found a worthy successor, he prepared to leave for his native Zakynthos. He then blessed his flock and asked the Lord to keep them unharmed from all enemies both visible and invisible, and to grant unto them every salutary desire. Bidding them farewell, he departed, leaving them all in exceeding sorrow.

Now a person of note on account of his hierarchial rank, he returned thus to Zakynthos and was received with inexpressible joy by his countrymen, who revered him as a spiritual sun of holiness, for at that time, in 1579, the Archdiocese of Zakynthos was widowed.1 The divine Dionysios was placed as overseer of the Archdiocese by a Patriarchal letter until new elections were held, even as it came to pass while Jerome was Patriarch.

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1. At his ordination to the episcopacy, the bishop is "wedded" to his diocese until his death (or until the diocese ceases to exist, this having also occurred many times in the history of the Church), at which time the diocese is referred to as a "widow." Hence the same hymns are chanted for the ordination and wedding services. This is also the reason why the bishop who moves from one see to another is referred to as an "adulterer" by the holy canons.


Since, however, he had accepted the care of the above-mentioned diocese not by his own will, but in order to satisfy his fellow countrymen who had requested this of him, no sooner had another been elected than he left for an appropriate and quiet place, no longer desiring to remain in worldly life where he had no peace; for he wished to be found together with God in spirit and to raise his mind with spiritual study and divine understanding. Already, from some ten years before, he had prepared an appropriate place so that he might live in holy silence, according to his longing. At this place there is found the Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Anaphonitria,1 which is some twenty miles distant from the main village, and lies on the highest mountains of this island, toward the southern part.

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1. "She that uplifteth Her voice" – a title given to several icons of the Mother of God, which on occasion have spoken. The Monastery was founded in 1381.


When the divine Dionysios arrived at the monastery, as he had ascended the mountain in body, so also did he lift up his mind altogether, even to the heavens. No other thing did he bring to mind except the incomparable beauty of the Three-Sunned Divinity. So subtle and discerning did his mind become from divine vision, that I am able to say that he came well nigh to becoming entirely spirit. I will not mention the passion-mortifying fasts, the day-long prayers, the harshness of his couch (for he had his bed made up of sharp rocks, which he covered with elegant coverings. He did not permit any of his servants to enter his cell so that this virtue of his might not be revealed, but he himself would make his bed). I will not speak of his liberal almsgiving which was like an ever-flowing fountain which bountifully watered the paupers that were athirst. It was his custom, once a year, on Pascha, to send the monastery's large boat to the main village loaded with wheat, pulse, lambs, kids, and other edibles, and the monks of the monastery would distribute them to the poor, in accordance with his command. I shall be silent concerning his other virtues of which the blessed one was full, like a fruitful tree.


ON THE ISLAND OF ZAKYNTHOS

The tower of the Monastery of Anaphonitria. Much of the Monastery is in ruins now from the repeated earthquakes that have struck the island over the centuries.


ON THE ISLAND OF ZAKYNTHOS

The Cathedral of St. Dionysios on Zakynthos the only building on the island left standing intact after the disastrous earthquake and fire of 1953, this being understood by the faithful of Zakynthos as yet another miracle of the Saint's intercession.


The Saint's boly relics placed for veneration


In truth, he was known to be an angel in the flesh and a man of like mind with the angels. He admonished the fathers of the monastery daily, teaching them not only by word, but more by his good example; for verily, this is the true and effective instruction. He incited them to keep the rules and customs of the monastic life unaltered, and never dare to transgress any of the promises which they had made when they put on the Angelic Habit.

AMONG THE NUMEROUS virtues which adorned him, there shone forth in him especially that divinely-named virtue which is the root and foundation of all the virtues – I mean the love for one's neighbor which is according to God. So much was this love rooted in his heart that it exceeded even the very bounds of nature. Listen, I beseech you, with attention and reverence, that you may marvel.

A certain man, a stranger, most bold and audacious, dared by his most abominable hand to murder Constantine, the Saint's beloved brother, a man most worthy and an illustrious nobleman of his native land. When he had committed this bloody murder, he feared the power of the murdered man's relatives, and he fled to deserted and untrodden places to save his life. Finally (I know not how, either by chance, or rather by Divine dispensation, so that the great and unheard-of virtue of the Saint might be revealed) he came to the aforementioned Monastery of the Theotokos Anaphonitria, not knowing that the abbot was the brother of the murdered man. Altogether terror stricken and half dead from fear, he fell at the feet of the Saint weeping, and besought him to show him mercy and hide him in some secret place.

When the Saint saw him so frightened, he asked him the cause of his great fear and he heard from him that he was fleeing from the wrath of the noblemen of the family of Sigouros, who were coming to find him and kill him because he had killed one of their family, one Constantine by name.

At this point, let everyone consider what heartfelt pain the Saint must have suffered, as was natural, upon hearing such a grievous and bitter message, especially since he had no other brother. Immediately the appearance of his countenance changed; tears of love for his brother ran like two fountains from his eyes and with a deep moan he said to him: "O man, in what way did that good nobleman harm you, that you killed him unjustly?" Here, as a man, he was constrained by the natural bond of love for his brother to revenge himself upon the man. Yet he preferred the commandment of God, Who commanded us to do good to those that treat us evilly. Not only did he not do evil to that man who was worthy of all punishment, but in imitation of our Master, Christ, Who endured evil and prayed to His Father for His crucifiers, he took that murderer and comforted him with words of consolation and hid him in a secret place, showing him all manner of love and compassion as though he were his benefactor, and not an enemy.

Within a short space of time, many of the Saint's relatives arrived running, flushed from the labor of the long trek, and well nigh half dead from their immeasurable grief. They were accompanied also by a multitude of armed men. When the Saint saw them, he pretended that he knew nothing and asked them to tell him the cause of their coming and their great sorrow. With many tears, they told him of the pitiable murder of his brother. Furthermore, they asked him if the murderer had passed by there, whom they were seeking in order to deprive him of his life, even as he also had done to his beloved brother.

The Saint wept and lamented together with his relatives over the death of his brother. Yet, in order that they might depart from there the sooner, and he could thus find time to save the murderer whom he had hidden, he brought them out, and with words of advice sent them off in the supposed direction of the murderer's flight. Immediately after his relatives had gone off some distance from there, he brought the murderer out in the open and told him that he was the murdered man's brother. He admonished him as a father and gave him spiritual counsel. Having brought him to repentance, he corrected him and forgave him his sin. Then he accompanied him down to the shore near the monastery, and when he had given him those things that were necessary for his sustenance and for his trip, he sent him to another place, that he might save his life.

O virtue! O deed that surpasses nature! O super-human achievement at which not only men would marvel at the hearing, but even the very angels of Heaven! Wherefore also, because of the Saint's Christ-like virtue, the richly-bestowing God enriched him with the grace to work supernatural miracles, of which we shall narrate a few.

One day, when the Saint wanted to go from the monastery to the main village for a certain matter of his, he said to his deacon, Daniel (who was from Trikala of Morea, and who had been reared by the Saint and later ordained by him. As a trustworthy man, he was always in the company of the Saint), "Daniel, shall we go to the village?" He answered, "My holy master, the weather looks as though it is going to rain." But the Saint answered him, "To the glory of God, let us go, and do not bring obstacles." And when they had set out, they had not gone far from the monastery when the rain began. The deacon said, "My master, did I not say that it was going to rain? It is better for us to turn back, for the rain is increasing more and more." But the true man of God said to him, "Let us go forward and nothing will happen to us." As the time passed, so also did the rain increase, but – O Thy wonders, Lord! –  even though there was so much rain, it did not touch their garments at all, neither those of the hierarch, nor those of the deacon.

When they reached a river over which they had to cross, they saw that it was flooded because of the excessive rain, and the deacon, in doubt, said, "How are we going to cross now, my master?" Then the Saint said to him with confidence, "Follow me in the name of Jesus Christ, and do not hesitate at all." And as they drew near – Oh, strange miracle! – the river's flow stood unmoving, rising up on one side and the other until both had passed without even wetting their feet at all. When the Saint saw the deacon's astonishment, he forbade him to reveal anything of what he saw while the Saint was still living. After the death of the Saint, the deacon revealed these things truthfully so that God might be glorified; for he considered it a sin to keep such supernatural miracles hidden.

Once, when the Saint was in the main village, they happened to open a certain grave at the temple of St. Nicholas of the Strangers (being so called because strangers were buried there; the parish is also the diocesan see of the island) so that they might bury another body there.

There they found the body of a woman who had died long before, but whose body, together with her garments, had not decomposed, because the hapless one had died under the ban of a priest. Wherefore, her relatives came and fell at the feet of the Saint, begging him with tears to go to the aforementioned temple and read a prayer of forgiveness over that body that was under ban, and perhaps the Lord would hearken unto his supplication. Being moved with compassion by their tears, the Saint went to this temple late at night, accompanied by his deacon and the parish priest. When he saw the body, he commanded that they take it out of the tomb and stand it upright in one of the church stalls. Then he put on his epitrachilion and omophorion, and bowing his knees, prayed for a considerable time. With fervent tears he made supplication unto God to loosen that undecomposed body from the ban of the priest and he read a prayer of forgiveness over it. And – Oh, the wonder! – as though it were alive, that dead body bowed its head in a motion of reverence to the Saint out of thanksgiving for the great gift which it had received, and then it fell to the ground and disintegrated into earth and bones. Out of humility, the Saint forbade those present to reveal this miracle also, while he was yet alive. In the village of Katastation he performed a similar miracle over the remains of a man who had been put under the ban of a priest.

A certain wealthy nobleman from the Saint's family once invited the Saint, together with other notable people, both clergy and lay, to go by sea with fishing-boats to a sea-side place which was commonly called Voidi (the Cow), where there was a small monastery in honor of the Holy Trinity. As the invited guests entered a small boat together with the host, those rude and indiscreet fishermen, because of their superstitious error, immediately began to grumble secretly against the clergy. For the senseless and faithless ones believe that if they see a man of the Church their work will not prosper that day and they will even suffer loss--which God indeed permits many times on account of their superstition and impertinency.

When, therefore, they had arrived by boat at the place called Voidi, they came out and went to the little monastery in order to rest and prepare everything. In the meantime the fishermen were casting their nets, and after a considerable time they returned empty-handed and totally without fish, grumbling even more, irrational brutes that they were, against the clergy that were in that company. Wherefore, that nobleman became grieved over this ill-fortune. When the Saint saw him like this, he asked to learn the cause of his grief. The nobleman told him the cause in a few words, adding that when the barbarous race of fishermen is going to work, it has so much superstition against the men of the cloth, that should they meet or see anyone in clerical garb, they immediately begin saying foolish things, that is, that they will fail in their labor. For this reason, even now it seems to them that they have had this bad luck in their fishing because of the presence of clergymen in the company.

Becoming greatly grieved over the despondency of the nobleman, or rather, scandalized by the erroneous belief of the fishermen, the Saint commanded that they bring the nets out on the shore. Whereupon, he put on his epitrachilion and read a prayer over them, blessed them and the fishermen as well, and told them, pointing with his finger, "Go to that part of the sea and cast your nets there, and you will catch many fish, according to your need and desire." And they answered, "Master, we will go with your blessing, but that place which you show us has no fish, because we have never caught a fish there. We know the places where the fish go, and we will cast our nets wherever it seems best to us." Then, when the Saint saw their audacious gainsaying, he told them in a severe tone, "I want you most surely to cast your nets there where I told you." The nobleman also said, "Let the will of the bishop be done, and do not resist his command." Thus they went forcibly, even though in their opinion it was hopeless, and they cast their nets at the appointed place. So great was the multitude and the variety of the fish which they caught, they were scarcely able to drag them into the boat. In astonishment, they stood marveling and immediately changed their unbelief to belief, and they carried in the catch like a trophy of the miracle. In fear and in joy they ran and fell at the feet of the Saint, confessing their sin with a great voice and asking forgiveness. As for that meek and divine man, he forgave them and counseled them to have reverence for the priestly habit, and to cast out of their minds soul-harming superstitions.

The Saint had received from God not only the gift of working miracles, but even the gift of clairvoyance as well, for the purpose of knowing secrets of the heart. This was revealed to a certain priest-monk who went to him for confession. Having heard of the virtues of the Saint, and of his angelic manner of life, this priest monk, Pancratios by name, went one day for confession, and when he had finished, the Saint asked him if he remembered anything else which he had to say to him. He answered that he did not remember anything. The Saint said to him, "Examine yourself well, my child, lest out of carelessness something has escaped your memory, and you depart uncorrected. Stay a while, and think to yourself in case you happen to remember any other fault that you have committed. For it seems certain to me that you have not made a complete confession." The priest-monk stood considering for a long time and then answered, "My most sacred master, I cannot remember anything else at all; only give me leave, that I may not trouble your holiness." Then, when the Saint saw that he who had come for confession was about to depart without revealing the greatest sin he had ever committed, he said to him with austerity, "Do you not remember, O unfortunate one, that while you were serving on such and such a day in such and such a church, how, because of your carelessness and lack of attention, the Precious Pearl [the Body of the Lord] fell to the earth?" When the priest-monk heard this word from the Saint's lips, he remembered it immediately and was overcome with fear, being astonished at the Saint's gift of clairvoyance; for he saw that, through the spiritual eyes of his soul, the Saint knew of his hidden sin, and he fell at his feet, wetting them with the tears of repentance, and he confessed his offence and sought forgiveness. As one who was an imitator of our all-compassionate Jesus, the Saint accepted his repentance, and admonished him to take care in the future, that whenever he served at the bloodless sacrifice to approach the Heavenly King with much fear and trembling and much reverence; for even the very angels cannot look upon Him steadfastly. After having instructed him with such admonitions, he gave him leave and sent him off in peace.

There are also many other things which the Saint did while still alive, which are worthy of being told, which, however, we pass over in silence in order not to burden the reader with a prolonged narration. We shall proceed to tell the most significant of those miracles which the Saint performed after his death.

HAVING PASSED HIS days living a life equal to that of the angels, the Saint reached a deep old age, and the time came for his departure to the Lord. He knew the hour of his repose from before, and revealed it to his spiritual children. When they heard this grievous announcement, they wept inconsolably over the loss of their good father and teacher. The Saint comforted them and counseled them in those things that were needful, and after he had blessed them and gave them the last kiss, he gave up his blessed soul into the hands of his God and Fashioner, on the seventeenth day of December in the year 1624. In accordance with his last command, his venerable relics were taken with honor and reverence to the sacred Monastery of Straphada, where he had put on the monastic habit. The righteous fathers of that illustrious monastery received his body as a most precious treasure, and with great reverence they buried it in a new sepulchre at the chapel of the Great-Martyr George, which is within the walls of the monastery.

Very little time had passed since his repose, when he began appearing in dreams to the abbot and to the brethren of the monastery many times, and he would tell them, "Why do you keep me closed here in the grave? Take me out." When the abbot and the brethren had discussed this vision together, they concluded that it was a divine revelation, and thus they opened the grave. There they found the most precious and sacred body of the Saint, together with the hierarchial vestments in which he had been buried, to be whole, unharmed and intact, and giving forth a wondrous fragrance as well. With hymns, with chants, and with all manner of reverence they brought it out of the grave and placed it in a prepared reliquary in the narthex of the main church, which was named in honor of the Divine Transfiguration of Christ.

This most precious body of the Saint is the guardian of that venerable monastery, and it never ceased from working miracles daily. It heals every illness of the fathers; it turns back the fruit-destroying locusts that come there often and damage the crops. Many times, during a period of drought, the fathers form a procession around the monastery with the holy relics of the Saint, and no matter how sunny or clear the weather may be, the heavens become cloudy immediately, and with great downpourings of rain they water the thirsty earth and gladden the monks.

The Saint had a certain large two-storied house in Zakynthos, where he stayed whenever he came down to the main village from the monastery. After his death, a certain nobleman rented the house from the son's heirs. Because of the great age of the structure, it was practically tottering and frightening even to behold. In spite of all this, that nobleman remained there out of the love and respect which he had for the Saint, and he greatly extolled his many virtues and godly gifts.

In 1661, when, for the iniquities of the people of that island, God chastened them many days with fearsome earthquakes and with the danger of utter destruction, the nobleman became exceedingly frightened. He decided to move to the lower floor, so that he would be able to get out quickly at every movement and tremor of the earth.

One night during that time of unrest, Helen, the nobleman's wife, saw in her dream a venerable bishop who was in middle age and looked just like the Saint. In the dream he went up to the upper floor of that dwelling together with his deacon. There he put on his epitrachilion and omophoron, recited the opening prayer in front of the icon of the Master, Christ, and read the service of the Small Blessing of the Waters. Afterwards, he sprinkled the whole house with the holy water and then drew near to the noblewoman and said to her with a cheerful countenance, "Woman, fear no longer." Immediately she awoke and also awoke her husband, and with mixed fear and joy told him the vision. Upon hearing it, that godly man decided that this dream meant nothing else but that, even during such times of great fear, the protection of the Saint cared for the house in a most competent manner, as though it were the Saint's own, and he preserved whole and unharmed those that were dwelling therein. Wherefore, having been thus strengthened by divine grace, that nobleman, together with his whole household, dwelt in that house with fervent faith and without fear, through the Saint's intercessions. Neither did he ever suffer any harm from the other earthquakes that occurred there thereafter; on the contrary, that blessed and most pious couple ended their days in that house in a godly manner.

A CERTAIN MONK from the monastery, Matthew by name (who had been a disciple of the Saint), saw the Saint in a dream one night, in which he told him: "Matthew, tell the abbot, Nectarios, that you should take care of yourselves with all diligence, because in eight days there will be a great earthquake and the monastery will suffer great harm and loss." When the monk awoke, he thought it to be a simple dream and told it to no one. Then, even as the Saint had predicted, there was an earthquake so great that most of the monastery's buildings fell and others were split asunder. Especially that wonderful tower on which one monk was keeping watch for thieves; when part of the tower collapsed, the monk fell with it and he cried out, calling upon the Saint's aid with faith. Even though the tower was so high, the monk was kept whole and unharmed, to the glory of God and praise of the Saint.

In 1645, when the Turkish fleet was about to pass by the parts of Strophada on its way to Kydonia (Hania), a city of Crete, the fathers, fearing lest the Hagarenes do them injury, took the relics of the Saint together with the other things of the monastery and went to Zakynthos to protect themselves. They took even all their sheep and other animals as well. Within a few days after the fathers reached their metochion,1 all of the animals lost their sight, which occurred either out of malice of the devil, or out of divine economy, so that the Saint might be glorified. Wherefore, being exceedingly afflicted, the fathers were unable to find another cure more beneficial than that of the Saint's help. First they performed the service of the Blessing of the Waters and touched the hands of the Saint's holy relics to the sanctified water. Then, with this they sprinkled the blinded animals and all received their sight at the same time.

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1. A holding or possession of a monastery. A monastery's 'metochia' may be anything from fields, to buildings, to chapels or even to other monasteries.


A certain relative of the Saint, a noblewoman named Angela, became grievously ill from an apoplexy. Not only was she left half paralyzed, but dumb and speechless as well. Seeking to cure her, the most experienced doctors used all the power of medicine. Yet in vain did they labor, because her condition only grew worse and she despaired entirely of regaining her health. Finally, her relatives remembered that the small toe from the Saint's venerable relics was kept there nearby. They sent in order to have it brought to the sick woman's house. When a priest touched her with it with faith and reverence in the form of a cross upon her lips and her dead limbs, immediately (Oh, the wonder!) her speech returned and her motionless members began to move, and she was restored to her former health.

The above-mentioned toe from the sacred relics was sent by the abbot of the Monastery of Strophada to Zakynthos for the sanctification and consolation and spiritual joy of the Saint's fellow countrymen. This took place in the following manner. A certain Christian who had gone to venerate and kiss the Saint's holy relics took and hid the toe in order to take it with him out of reverence. When he desired to go out of the narthex where the Saint's holy relics were, he was hindered by an invisible force. Thus, even though unwillingly, he confessed his deed to the fathers and gave back the toe. Then the abbot sent the toe to Zakynthos, and the aforementioned worshipper left the narthex unhindered.

One worshipper gave a large candle to Methodios, the sacristan of the church, so that he might light it before the Saint's holy relics. Out of negligence, however, he did not light it. That night, while he was asleep, he saw that as he was entering the narthex of the church where the Saint's relics were, the Saint turned towards him, and looking at him with an austere gaze, told him, "Depart from here." Terrified, he woke up and saw the candle hanging in one corner of his room. Immediately, he arose from bed, took the large candle with fear and lit it before the holy relics, at the same time humbly asking forgiveness from the Saint for his negligence. The next night, while asleep, he again saw the Saint who, with a cheerful countenance, raised his right hand and blessed him.

AT ONE TIME, the abbot of the monastery was a certain Daniel, a modest and a venerable man from Mani, who later became bishop of his native land. He was very hesitant concerning the sanctity of the hierarch Dionysios, and he would say to himself many times, "Can it be that Dionysios is found among the choir of the Saints, as we here consider him to be?" In that the Lord desired to take away this hesitation from his mind, one night while the abbot was sleeping in bed, it appeared to him (as he thought) that the ecclesiarch1 knocked on the door of his cell, and according to the rule, asked his blessing to sound the semantron for the night office. After a little while, he awoke, and thinking that he had truly given the ecclesiarch the blessing to sound for the service, he reviled himself as being a lover of sleep and said, "Oh, how did sleep overcome me, and the enemy make me drowsy? So much time has passed since I told the ecclesiarch to sound, and the fathers must have gathered already in church and are waiting for me in order to begin the service."

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1. One who cleans and cares for the church. He also sounds the semantron or wooden block that summons the monks to services.


Dressing with haste, he set out immediately to go to the church; but (Oh, the wonder!) when he reached that door of the narthex which was opposite the Saint's reliquary, with his own eyes he saw the Saint standing upright outside of the reliquary between two priests. He was dressed in white bishop's vestments and was resting his hands on the shoulders of the priests. There were also two deacons, likewise dressed in their vestments. Of these, one was vesting the bishop and the other stood at the middle door of the narthex censing the Saint and reciting the verses "My soul shall rejoice..." and so on. The priest who stood at the bishop's right hand looked steadfastly at the abbot, and shaking his head a little, said to him, "Are you convinced now or do you still doubt?" Terrified at this most wondrous sight and beside himself from astonishment, the abbot, with much fear, drew back quietly and went out of the temple.

After he had come out of the temple, the abbot then changed his mind and returned to look again, to see if, perchance, that awesome vision continued. When he reached the door of the narthex, he saw the Saint going back by himself and entering into his reliquary. Immediately the lamps and that great effusion of light were extinguished, and at the same time the two priests and the deacons who appeared formerly disappeared. Then the abbot returned to his cell with inexpressible fear. He stood considering all those things which God had accounted him worthy to see that he might be informed concerning the bishop's sanctity.

After a little while, the ecclesiarch came in truth to ask his blessing to sound the semantron. Knowing him to be a God-fearing and virtuous man, the abbot told him of the vision and after this, when the other fathers learned of it also, they all went together with the abbot to the Saint's reliquary and, with hymns, praised the Saint with great compunction. All in common were convinced even more that St. Dionysios rejoices together with the other Saints in the delights of Paradise – especially the abbot who, with all manner of humble-mindedness and reverence, asked forgiveness from the Saint for his former disbelief. Henceforth, he became a great preacher who never ceased from proclaiming to all concerning the holiness of St. Dionysios and of the great boldness which he had before God.

A COUPLE from the Peloponnesus who had been married for some ten years had no children. Wherefore, they besought the Saint to grant them a child, promising to baptize it in the Saint's temple on Zakynthos. Then the woman saw the Saint in her sleep, and he said to her, "What do you seek from me, woman? Behold, God has hearkened to your supplication, and you will quickly receive what you desire."


Procession with the sacred relics of St. Dionysios around the city of Zakynthos on the Saint's feast day


Truly, the woman conceived and gave birth to a most delightful son, through the intercessions of the Saint. Wherefore the parents and all their relatives were exceedingly joyous and glorified God and His servant, Saint Dionysios.

After some five months had passed since the birth of the child, the parents prepared to depart for Zakynthos in order to fulfill their promise. Because of a contrary wind, however, the ship was unable to depart, and in the meantime, the child became grievously ill. This, however, did not cause them to fear, but as soon as the bad weather passed they set sail. But alas! while they were only a short distance – scarcely four miles from Zakynthos, their beloved infant died. Every one can well imagine the lamentations and wailings of those hapless parents. The very air echoed with their outcries.

Finally the ship dropped anchor in the harbor at evening. The next morning, those good, yet unfortunate parents desired to offer their child, though dead, to the Saint. Accompanied by many other Christians, they came, therefore, to the Saint's temple carrying the dead child and placed the body near the sacred reliquary. With tears and laments they said that, even though they had lost their beloved child because of their sins, yet they had not tarried in fulfilling their promise.

But then, suddenly – Oh, the wonder! – the infant opened its eyes and began with tears to cry for its mother! At this awesome sight, with bended knee, all that were present cried out, "Lord have mercy." As for that unhappy mother, when she saw her child returned to this present life even though it had died eighteen hours previously, she fell to the earth in a dead faint. Afterwards, when she came to herself, she took it into her arms, and at its baptism named it Dionysios.

Thus, that pious couple departed rejoicing and glorifying God and proclaimed the miracle everywhere. Out of gratefulness, the young Dionysios never failed to bring incense and many candles as an offering during the feast day of the Saint.

ONE SHOEMAKER from Zakynthos, Panayiotes Kalountzopoulos by name, who supported his family by the sweat of his brow, lost his sight. At the prompting of his wife, the unfortunate man called upon the Saint that he might receive again the precious gift of sight. Taking the icon of the Saint into his hands, the blind man embraced it and kissed it and sighed from the depths of his heart while calling upon the Saint's help. On the fourteenth of the month of December, while asleep, he saw the Saint in bishop's vestments and wearing his episcopal mantle. The Saint approached him, and taking him by his right hand, said to him, "Take courage, my child; have faith in God and do not grieve, for after three days you shall receive your sight and will be healed completely. Do not reveal this until you have been healed completely." Having said these things, he disappeared.

Then the blind Panayiotes arose from sleep and told this vision to his wife only, and forbade her to reveal it to anyone. Afterwards, he asked for the icon of the Hierarch, and embraced and kissed it fervently.

On the evening before the Saint's feast, at the sound of the first cannon shot, Panayiotes remembered how the Saint had appeared to him. He bowed his knees on his bed, and supported by his pious wife, he prayed and besought the Saint with tears, and – Oh, the wonder! – immediately he began to see a dim light.

The next day, the 17th of December, when the Saint's commemoration is celebrated by a procession around the city of Zakynthos with the Saint's all-venerable relics, the suffering man arose from his bed with the help of his wife as the procession passed by below their house. On bended knees both made fervent supplication and called upon the Saint. After the procession had gone some thirty steps-Oh, Thy wonders, Lord! – the blind man received his sight completely, and he glorifies and blesses God and His wonderworking servant, Dionysios, even to this very day.

A certain ship, storm-tossed to Zakynthos, was unable to resist the force of the threatening waves and began sinking into the sea. Three pious sailors surrendered themselves to the wrath of the wild waves and called upon the aid of Saint Dionysios. And truly, the Saint appeared to them and calmed the wrath of the waves and, as they swam, guided them toward Zakynthos. Soaked and out of breath, they went directly to the Saint's temple that they might offer thanksgiving to their rescuer. They asked that the sacred reliquary be opened so that they might venerate his holy relics and cover his holy feet with their tears. But since the parish priest who had the keys was absent, those three pious men could not do otherwise except to kiss only the sacred reliquary and depart. Just as they were about to do this, suddenly a sound was heard, and the reliquary opened of its own accord, to the amazement of the three, and of all the other Orthodox who were there present! When therefore, they had kissed the Saint's holy feet with compunction, the sacred reliquary closed again of its own accord as before. As for the sailors, they came and proclaimed to all these strange miracles of Saint Dionysios the wonderworker.

Those are a few of the many and wondrous miracles which Saint Dionysios the wonderworker performed and continues to perform daily, in that he grants healing unto all who seek his aid and entreat his boundless mercy with faith.

As for thee, O wondrous hierarch Dionysios, before whose boundless mercy and great compassion we stand in awe, make thou supplication unto the all-compassionate God that He may preserve all those who, through thy intercessions, seek the help of the Lord our God, Who, as thy life doth demonstrate, is wondrous in His saints. For therein is manifest the grace of God which was given thee, that thou mightest work miracles unfailingly and have mercy on those who run to thy great mercy, and especially on thy fellow-countrymen, the inhabitants of the isle of Zakynthos, who boast in that they are fortunate to have thee as their protecting saint. Through whose intercessions, O Christ God, have mercy on us. Amen.