Saint Achillius
Icon of Saints Achillius and Pachomius (Achillius is to the left)
Bishop of Larissa
Born	unknown
Died	330, Larissa, Thessaly
Venerated in	Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	the island of St. Achillius in Prespa, Macedonia
Feast	15 May
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Saint Achillius of Larissa, also known as Achilles,^[1] Ailus,^[2] Achillas,^[1] or Achilius^[3] (Greek: Άγιος Αχίλλειος), was one of the 318 persons present at the First Council of Nicaea. His feast day is on 15 May. Coptic icon of St Pachomius Saint Pachomius (ca. ... Events May 11 - Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome, and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. ... Coordinates 39°38′ N 22°25′ E Country Greece Periphery Thessaly Prefecture Larissa Population 124,376 source (2006) Area 122. ... Map showing Thessaly periphery in Greece Thessaly (Θεσσαλια; modern Greek Thessalía; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is one of the 13 peripheries of Greece, and is further sub-divided into 4 prefectures. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Eastern Christianity. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ... Eastern Orthodox shrine Buddhist shrine just outside Wat Phnom. ... Map Satellite image Prespa is the name of two freshwater lakes in southeast Europe, shared by Greece, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia. ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more saints, and referring to the day as that saints day. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... Image File history File links Gloriole. ... The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicea in Bithynia (in present-day Turkey), convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 325, was the first ecumenical[1] conference of bishops of the Christian Church, and most significantly resulted in the first uniform Christian doctrine. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ...

Life and legend

Achillius was metropolitan of Larissa in Thessaly, Greece, and is remembered primarily for his vehement defense of orthodoxy during the Council of Nicea and a miracle he performed in testimony against the Arian heresy. In hierarchical Christian churches, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop (then more precisely called Metropolitan archbishop) of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of an old Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital. ... Coordinates 39°38′ N 22°25′ E Country Greece Periphery Thessaly Prefecture Larissa Population 124,376 source (2006) Area 122. ... Map showing Thessaly periphery in Greece Thessaly (Θεσσαλια; modern Greek Thessalía; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is one of the 13 peripheries of Greece, and is further sub-divided into 4 prefectures. ... A miracle, derived from the old Latin word miraculum meaning something wonderful, is a striking interposition of divine intervention by a god in the universe by which the ordinary course and operation of Nature is overruled, suspended, or modified. ... This article is about theological views like those of Arius. ... Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the Catholic or Orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. ...

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] Christ is the English translation of the Greek word (Christós), which literally means The Anointed One. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Look up Heretic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Son of God is a biblical phrase from the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), and the New Testament. ... In many religions, the supreme God is given the title and attributions of Father. ...

Upon returning from the Council, Achillius is reputed to have "cast down many pagan temples, built many churches, [and] cast out many demons".^[4] The 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia makes issue to reference Achillius in its article about the bishopric of Larissa. Heathen redirects here. ... Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo, fresco of Giotto Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place of which they have possessed (taken control of). ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in 1913 by The Encyclopedia Press. ... Coordinates 39°38′ N 22°25′ E Country Greece Periphery Thessaly Prefecture Larissa Population 124,376 source (2006) Area 122. ...

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

Achillius died in Larissa in the year 330. When Samuel, King of Macedonia, conquered Thessaly, he translated the relics of Achillius to Prespa, to an island in a lake that was subsequently named after the saint.^[5] Events May 11 - Constantine I refounds Byzantium, renames it New Rome, and moves the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. ... Samuil (Bulgarian: Самуил) (ca. ... A relic is an object, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of someone of religious significance, carefully preserved with an air of veneration as a tangible memorial, Relics are an important aspect of Buddhism, some denominations of Christianity, Hinduism, shamanism, and many other personal belief systems. ... Prespa is the name of two freshwater lakes in southeast Europe, shared by Greece, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia. ...

Notes

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Prespa is the name of two freshwater lakes in southeast Europe, shared by Greece, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia. ...

External links

• Achilles, Bishop of Larissa, from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: Apolytikion, kontakion, and a 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
• (Norwegian) Den hellige Achilles av Larissa