By Anna Hassapi
Clergy overwhelmed by public reaction to ‘miracle bones’
FAITHFUL FROM all over Cyprus are following the skull of Saint John Chrysostom currently touring Cyprus to worship the relic, with many of them are for a miracle.
“People are truly touched. We have never seen so many people in our church. They keep coming from all over the Paphos district – even people from Larnaca have come to pay their respects,” said Father Neophytos, priest at Ayios Kentea church, where the skull stayed from Wednesday to Friday afternoon.
To control the flow of people entering the small Paphos church, the church’s entrance was guarded by a local priest who asked people to enter ten at a time. Crowds of people waited impatiently for their turn, many of them elderly and frail.
Some even tried to push their way in, pleading with the priest to let them in. “Be patient and we will all be blessed,” an elderly woman told others at the gate.
The skull of Saint John Chrysostom has already been credited with two miracles since its arrival in Cyprus. The phenomena occurred at the church of Saint John Chrysostomos at Lakatamia in Nicosia, upon the relic’s arrival to the church. In the first miracle, a woman whose leg had been broken in a car accident threw off her cast after visiting. In the second, a boy who had suffered a stroke and was semi-paralysed was able to walk after worshiping the relic.
People have since been visiting the relic en masse, hoping for more miracles.
“I want to pay my respects to the skull twice, as I am very sick. I have come a long way to see the Saint and be blessed,” said a woman at the Paphos church.
Many came to the church with their sick relatives, hoping the saint’s relic would cure them. “My son is sick and I brought him to the saint,” said a woman. Others brought infants to be blessed by St John’s grace.
However, no more miracles have been reported since the Nicosia incidents, Father Neophytos confirmed. “People have said they are overwhelmed by feelings of joy and are moved when they approach the skull,” the Ayios Kentea church priest continued.
The relic arrived in Cyprus from Mount Athos last Saturday, accompanied by Archimandrite Ephraim the Elder. It stayed in Paphos until Friday afternoon, then going to Limassol’s Panayia Pantanassa Church. Today the skull of St John Chrysostom will be taken to Machairas Monastery for the completion of its Cyprus tour.
St John Chrysostom, or “golden-mouthed”, protector of Orthodox Learning, is one of the three Holy Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church. He is also recognised by the Roman Catholic Church, and the Church of England ; both Churches commemorate him on September 13.
His relics were stolen from Constantinople by Crusaders in 1204 and taken to Rome, but were returned on November 27, 2004, by Pope John Paul II.
The skull of St John Chrysostom has been brought to Cyprus on the occasion of the 1,600-year anniversary since the Saint’s assumption.
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Just to quickly point the article contains several significant errors. The first is that we do not "worship" relics nor anything else for that matter but God. We "venerate" relics(and icons, etc.).
The second error is that the article says St. John was "assumed". The Saint died after enduring outcast from Constantinople for his outspoken denunciations against the Empress and others who were corrupt in the City.
For a more detailed history of St. John Chrysostom, go here.
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