Achillius of Larissa

Saint Achillius

Mosaic in Hosios Loukas

Bishop of Larissa
Born| 3rd century
Died| AD 330
Larissa, Thessaly
Venerated in| Eastern Orthodox Church
Catholic Church
Major shrine| the island of St. Achillius in Small Prespa Lake, Greece
Feast| 15 May
Patronage| Larissa

Saint Achillius of Larissa, also known as Achilles,[1] Ailus,[2] Achillas,[1] or Achilius[3] (Greek: Άγιος Αχίλλειος, Ágios Achílleios) (died 330 AD), was a 4th century bishop of Larissa and one of the 318 persons present at the First Council of Nicaea. His feast day is on 15 May.[4]

## Life[edit]

Achillius was metropolitan of Larissa in Thessaly, Greece. Achillius is mainly remembered for his vehement defense of orthodoxy during the Council of Nicea and a miracle he performed in testimony against Arianism.

> Taking up a stone, Achillius called to the Arians: 'If Christ is a creature of God, as you say, tell oil to flow from this stone.' The heretics kept silent, amazed at this demand by St. Achillius. Then the saint continued: 'And if the Son of God is equal to the Father, as we believe, then let oil flow from this stone.' And oil flowed out, to the amazement of all.[2]

Upon returning from the Council, Achillius is reputed to have "cast down many pagan temples, built many churches, [and] cast out many demons".[5] The 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia makes issue to reference Achillius in its article about the bishopric of Larissa.

> We must mention especially, St. Achilius, in the fourth century, whose feast is on 15 May, and who is celebrated for his miracles.[3]

## Veneration[edit]

Achillius died in Larissa in the year 330. When Samuel, Emperor of Bulgaria, conquered Thessaly, he translated the relics of Achillius to Prespa, to an island in a lake that was subsequently named after the saint.[6] A district of Larissa is called Saint Achellios after this saint.

## See also[edit]

* Saint Achillius Church in Serbia
* Basilica of St. Achillios in Larissa

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ a b Catholic Online. "St. Achillas". Saints & Angels. Archived from the original on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
2. ^ a b Velimirovich, Nikolai. "St Achillius, Bishop of Larissa". The Prologue From Ochrid. Archived from the original on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
3. ^ a b "Larissa". Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9\. Robert Appleton Company. 1910. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
4. ^ (in Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀχίλλιος Ἐπίσκοπος Λαρίσης. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
5. ^ "God is Wonderful in His Saints". "Our Father among the Saints Achillius, Bishop of Larissa". Orthodox Saints commemorated in May. Archived from the original on 13 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
6. ^ See Macedonia Historical Maps, which cites "St Achillius" as a "small island with Byzantine churches" in Prespa.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Achillius.

* Achillius the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Larissa, from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: Kontakion and reading for 15 May
* Icon of Achillios at OramaWorld.com
* Basilica of St. Achilleios at Lake Prespa from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
* Achillios: article on the islet which houses the ruins of the basilica
* (in Norwegian) Den hellige Achilles av Larissa