Synaxarium

On this day in the year 402 AD, the great father Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, departed. This saint was born to Jewish parents. His father died and left him with a sister, so his mother raised him well.

His father left him a strange beast, and his mother asked him to sell it. A Christian man named Phileuthus came to buy it, but the beast kicked Epiphanius in the thigh and he fainted. Phileuthus was crucified on the thigh but was unharmed. He cried out to the beast asking for its death, and God answered his prayer; the beast fell dead. Epiphanius asked about the reason for its death, and Phileuthus answered, "It is the cross," and explained about Jesus the crucified Son of God, whom the Jews crucified in Jerusalem by His own will for the salvation of the world. This remained in Epiphanius' mind. A rich Jew died without leaving offspring and bequeathed his inheritance to Epiphanius, who used it to support teachers of sciences and the law.

Once, while walking on the road, he saw a poor man asking for alms from a monk. Having no money to give, he took off his garment and gave it to him. When the poor man took the garment, Epiphanius saw as if a white robe descended from heaven upon the monk in place of the garment. He was amazed and approached the monk, asking who he was and what his religion was. The monk told him he was Christian. Epiphanius asked him to guide him to the truths of this religion. The monk answered and brought him to the bishop, who taught him the Christian doctrines and baptized him. Epiphanius desired to become a monk, so the bishop sent him to the Monastery of Saint Lucian, where he was a disciple of Saint Hilarion. God's grace was upon him; he mastered church sciences, monastic virtues, and rules. Saint Hilarion prophesied that he would become a bishop and ordered him to go to Cyprus and not refuse the episcopate if offered.

When the bishop of Cyprus died, Epiphanius entered the city to buy some bodily needs, accompanied by two monks. The holy bishop was inspired to go to the market and choose the monk holding two bunches of grapes, named Epiphanius, to ordain him bishop of Cyprus.

When he entered the market, he found him with the two monks and the bunches of grapes in his hand. He asked his name, recognized him as God's chosen, took him to the church, and ordained him deacon, priest, and bishop. He showed the people his vision, fulfilling Saint Hilarion's prophecy. This saint lived a life pleasing to God during his episcopate, wrote many books and treatises, and always preached mercy. It happened that John, Bishop of Jerusalem, was not merciful. Epiphanius borrowed some silver food vessels from him, sold them, and gave the proceeds in charity. When John demanded them back, he struck him with his belt, and his eyes became blind. He asked the saint to pray for him, and God opened one of his eyes.

In the year 402 AD, Queen Afdoxia summoned him to work on deposing Saint John Chrysostom. He went to Constantinople and sought reconciliation between them but failed. She threatened to open pagan temples and close churches if he did not depose him. Unable to reconcile them, he returned to his see and departed in the same year (the transfer of his body is commemorated on 28 Bashans). May his prayers be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.