Saint Sophianos, Bishop of
Dryinoupolis (+ 1711)
By Father Nektarios Pettas
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St. Sophianos of Dryinoupolis (Feast Day - November
26)
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Saint
Sophianos was an important religious figure of his time in the region of
Epirus, and is considered the precursor of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos (Aug. 24).
He was probably born in the village of Polytsani, in the Pogon region of
Northern Epirus. At the time he became Bishop of Dryinoupolis* (modern
southwest Albania) the religious composition of the region was changing due to
massive conversions to Islam.
In 1672 he
founded a Greek school in the local Monastery of Saint Athanasios. In
recognition of the danger that Christianity was shrinking, Sophianos resigned
his bishopric and became a monk a few months prior to his repose in 1711, thus
becoming a wandering missionary, preaching from village to village.
Because of
his pious character he was respected and honored by both Christians and
Muslims. There was the case of a young Muslim girl who desperately appealed to the
Saint, unable to find her embroidered with gold coins fez. After fervent prayer
it was revealed to him that the fez was in the nest of a stork, indicating the
exact spot where she later found it, in gratitude to the Bishop.
Another
miracle of his from historical sources and oral testimonies, speaks of a
traveler who visited the Monastery of Saint Athanasios. There the monks were
talking about a certain miracle, and Saint Sophianos was present among them,
who listened attentively. The traveler initially seemed skeptical about this
narration of the monk and then strongly expressed his disbelief. The Saint then
ordered a young monk to go to the fireplace and get three pieces of cherry wood
which were burned. He asked the stranger and unbelieving traveler along with
the monk to follow him to the courtyard, and taking an ax he planted the three
burned pieces of wood. He then told the traveler that these would bloom and
bear fruit next spring, and by this God would empirically show how the reported
miracle narrated by the monk was absolutely true. And indeed by his prayers the
miracle happened. The burned wood caught root, and the leaves and berries
blossomed as he foretold. Till this day it is found in the courtyard of the
Monastery, which today carries the name Monastery of Saints Athanasios and
Sophianos.
Saint
Sophianos' last days were spent in the Monastery of Saint Athanasios in his
hometown of Polican (Pogon), where he taught Orthodoxy and letters to the
village children. He reposed on 26 November 1711. His sacred skull and relics
are kept in ornate containers, which were transferred for security reasons from
the Monastery of the Saint by the revered priest of the village Fr. Euthymios
Kalamas, and they were brought to the Church of the Archangels in Polytsani,
and are still kept there today as a source of sanctification and blessing.
Notes:
* From the
Roman period there was a fortified settlement named Hadrianoupolis in the
region, named after the Roman emperor Hadrian. During the 6th century the Roman
Emperor Justinian I, as part of his fortification plans against barbarian
invasions, moved the settlement 4 kilometers southeast in the modern village of
Peshkëpi, in order to gain a more secure position. The city is also referred in
Roman sources as Ioustinianoupolis. During the 11th century the city was named
Dryinoupolis, a name possibly deriving from its former name or from the nearby
river. It was also, from the 5th century, the see of a bishopric (initially
part of the Diocese of Nicopolis, Nafpaktos and then Ioannina).
Apolytikion
Anointed
with the myrrh of the hierarchy, you showed yourself to be a notable chief
priest and inspiring healer of Christ to all, and you wisely shepherded the
people of the Lord, Venerable Sophianos, through words and deeds, and now you
entreat Christ at all times, to have mercy on those who bless you.
Megalynarion
Showing yourself to be the sacred shepherd of
Dryinoupolis, like the Hierarchs of old imitating them in all things,
all-blessed Sophianos, by your inspired success you were magnified.
wrote:http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2016/11/saint-sophianos-bishop-of-dryinoupolis.html?m=1
