The Biography of Saint Myron

The Biography of Saint Myron

The Rafkos then, was the birthplace of Saint Myron. The relative with this historical tradition is poor, and the lives and biographies that echome our moods not sufficiently enlighten about life and action. The birth is placed around 250 AD, during the reign of Emperor Decius and his death (assumption, as is customary in the Church terminology), around 350 AD

He ascended to the episcopal throne of Gortyn around 320-330 AD But here the tradition is divided. That is, is a matter born, if there was bishop of Gortyna, that President Crete or was simply Bishop Knossos. That's because the older texts bring him as bishop (Gortyn) Crete, while the newer as bishop of Knossos. Without doubt we must accept the evidence of the oldest life, a reliable text on the 10th or 11th century, which bring him as Chairman Crete << >>, ie bishop (Gortyn) Crete. Regarding not the younger hagiographic tradition that brings him as bishop of Knossos, this appears to be due to the transfer of the old bishopric of Knossos in Rafkos city, namely the Holy Myron during the second Byzantine period the island.

The Saint was born of noble and pious parents. The birth and upbringing coincided with the difficult years of the persecution of Decius, so indeed his parents tried very diligently to raise him properly and to protect it from the effects of sinful idolatry of that era. Already from his childhood was evident that future development within the church because he was wise and prudent, shunned baby frivolities and habits and show obedience to his parents.

From toddler seemed a benevolent character and the miraculous abilities, which is evidenced by the numerous miracles. One feature is that with the grapes and wine.

One year, says tradition, distributed to the poor all the grapes from the vines of his family. His mother made the remark that all year toils for the vineyard that now no grapes to make wine left. But he no antimilisei mother of the said: << Efylaxen and our God Mother! >> He went to the vineyard and found only a bunch of grapes with three nipples. He brought it home and put it in the glass. Immediately began to run the must until filled barrels family and the entire village.

When Myra grew up practicing the profession of farmer. And in this phase of his life he continued to help all people in any way they could. Satiate the hungry, dressed the naked, take care of widows and orphans, greet strangers and generally offered all assistance to anaxiopathontes. It features two incidents of behavior that occurred during this period.

The first, a night happened when St. noticed that thieves had gone stealing grain from the threshing floor. The thieves thought that sleeping. Filled sacks, and one with the help of the other charged on their shoulder and left. The latter however, had no help and struggled to lift the bag on his shoulder. Then Santa got up and with his own hands put the sack on his shoulder thief. << God forgive you >> said the Saint and the thief left amazed.

The second case is similar to the first. Thieves were trying to steal from the field of chickpeas. When the Saint realized instead to stalk them, blessed them and giving them their chickpeas sent home by ordering them not to speak to anyone about the incident.

When he reached marriageable age Myron, married with a woman pious and faithful. But soon his wife died and he, once freed from the shackles of nerve undistracted devoted to God. daily studying the Scriptures, he fasted and prayed while continuing their charitable work. As it became known virtue, ordained Reader first and then ordained Elder. In the following years, on Constantine the Great, when now persecutions stopped, Myron served with zeal in preaching the Gospel, teaching not only with his words but rather with his works and his virtue.

His reputation quickly spread everywhere for it and when the Bishop of Crete died, everyone, clergy, nobles and people turned to him and begged him to take over the pastoral care of their souls. So Myron consecrated Bishop of Crete and this axiom most continued its miraculous action and benevolent work.

Once, while touring-according to the custom of bishops-the province, had to cross the river, then called Third, the current Giofiro. But it was winter and the river eieche flooded. When he arrived, he crossed the waters by the Episcopal of rod and stopped the natural flow of the river, to get him and his entourage. Then he gave the deacon of the bar and told him to crucify the waters. So the river continued to run.

The saint lived into old age. Koimithite estimated that about one hundred years after leaving behind a huge pastoral and Christian work, while paving the way for entry into the Christian life of hundreds of people since then until today.

Both during his life and after his repose, numerous are the miracles that are attributed to the face. Of these, in this phase of our work, we will mention some of which date back to the Ottoman period.

In 1826, therefore, the Turkish Grand Castle, led by Hasan Pasha, recruited against the Malevizi province villages. Once arrested many of the inhabitants led them to the village Agios Myron and kept captives beside the Temple, one on the house roof in order to carry them next to the City and others to kill them and others to their tourkepsoun. In order to even prevent any escape placed during the night and second guard. All night the prisoners prayed and invoked the help of the Holy. At midnight there was a glare in the sky like fiery languages ​​descended and stood over the church. Simultaneously they were heard and possible thunder deafening noises. The Turks thought that the Christian army was surrounded and occupied because their panic, they left running while the villagers rushed to release their captives, who thanked Santa for their salvation.

The 1826 also mentioned two important miracles that made Saint and even in Turkish.

Hussein Agha from Archanes, who also took part in many massacres against Christians, had been blinded. He had left magician or doctor and not the visit to be cured. Friends of Christians advised him to go to Tinos, but Evanyelistria wanted to glorify St. and Hussein turned from there blind. When Hussein learned that Saint Myron miracles, requested and brought him to the village. He entered the church and knelt before the tomb of St. All the time the Divine Liturgy was kneeling. When the priest read the Gospel, cried the blind: << Glory Anyway God and honor the Holy One elder, I see ... >>. Indeed, after the end of the operation, the Turkish Aga descended into the cave Opy ascetic saint washed his eyes with the miraculous holy water and became completely well. From then until 1859 where he died he visited very often the village and the church of St and offered gifts.

That same year, another Turk, the Bedri Effendi, despite the hardness gave villagers permission to repair the temple of the saint, although this is hardly allowed in those years. A yet another Ottoman, Hajji Moustafa, pliroforoumenos fact banned the reconstruction process and even wanted to turn the church into a mosque. So Bedri killed him and forbade the monk Nelepo to re-enter the temple. But while he was leaving the village Heraklion, she fell ill with dysentery and died. So with the miraculous intervention of St. rescued the temple from the vevylosi.

At the same time, the Ottomans save the temple of Saint supplies and food and placed guard for their safekeeping. But during the night they sounded strong thunder and terrible noise. Residents woke up and ran to the temple from where the noise was coming. They saw the Turkish guards to go and shout that Evlias, an old man with white beard and gold clothing drive them. The next day removed from the temple munitions and delivered him to the Christians are seamlessly their worship.

The summer of 1861 came to St. Myron from Heraklion George Kolyvakis together with his wife Marigo, which according to the diagnosis of doctors suffered from severe nervous disease. During their stay in the village the situation worsened and relatives, hoping to statherapeftiki power of the Holy Temple brought to him. They invited the abbots of the monasteries Jerusalem and Maximus the Merciful Meletios, the vicar of Ano Asites George and the priests of the Temple Emmanuel, and Hadji-Papamichail. Priests for five whole days did prayers near the tomb of the saint and together with them many villagers fasted and prayed. Every day they were celebrating Mass, while the Tomb of St. scatters wonderful fragrance, which filled the Temple. During the night of Wednesday presented the patient saint informed that Friday would be exempt from the influence of the evil spirit. On Friday, during the Holy Mass and while the priest gave the << ... >> Exairetos, the patient cried out, shaken and left for a short time on the ground as if dead. After a while he got up, healthy anymore, praising God and thanking Santa for treatment.

Besides the above, of course, they have been recorded and many other wonders of this period (19th c.), Which, indeed, could be material for many books. We decided however to not to tire our readers to choose a number, which also directly linked with aspects of our work.