Today, the Holy Church commemorates Venerable Michael, Bishop of Synnada, and Saint Mary of Clopas, who was one of the Myrrh-bearing Women. Early in the morning, on the first day after the Sabbath, they were the first to visit Christ’s Tomb and discovered that the Sepulchre was empty. There, the radiant Angel announced to them the joyful message of the Resurrection. Saint Mary the Myrrh-bearer was the mother of Joseph and James the Less, one of the Twelve Apostles.
Venerable Michael was born into an aristocratic family and came from Synnada in Phrygia. He lived during the reign of Emperor Leo V the Armenian, who was a fervent opponent of the holy icons. He first studied theology and later departed for the region of Pontus, where he embraced the monastic life together with his friend Theophylact. He later returned to his homeland as bishop, having received episcopal ordination from Saint Tarasios, Patriarch of Constantinople. He courageously opposed Leo’s attempt to abolish the veneration of the holy icons, and for this reason, he endured many persecutions and imprisonments.
The many hardships he suffered ultimately led to his death, thus rightfully granting him the crown and title of confessor of the Orthodox faith.
His holy skull is preserved at the Monastery of the Great Lavra on Mount Athos and was, in earlier times, transferred several times to Cyprus in an effort to combat locust infestations that were devastating agricultural production.
Today, Venerable Eumenios Saridakis the New is also commemorated, who was born in Crete and served for many years at the Leper Hospital of Athens. The official recognition and proclamation of his sainthood took place in April 2022 by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
