Icon of St. Phanourios - 00STPH01

Feast Day/Commemorated: August 27

The Discovery of Saint Phanourios

The story of Saint Phanourios begins with a surprising discovery in the late 15th or early 16th century. During the rebuilding of the city walls on the island of Rhodes, which had been conquered by Moslems, workers stumbled upon the ruins of a church. Inside, they found several icons, but one stood out: a vibrant, undamaged icon of Saint Phanourios. The local bishop, Nilus, was called to the scene and found the saint depicted as a young soldier holding a cross. This iconic image and its miraculously preserved state marked the start of the saint's veneration.

The Martyrdom of Saint Phanourios

The icon itself revealed the dramatic and brutal story of Saint Phanourios's life. Around the border of the icon were twelve scenes that vividly portrayed his martyrdom. These depictions showed him enduring a series of horrific tortures, including being questioned by officials, beaten with stones, whipped, and raked with iron hooks. He was also shown being burned with candles, tied to a rack, and crushed by a large rock. The final scenes show him triumphing over a demon and standing in the midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. These images confirmed that he was a martyr who had suffered greatly for his faith.

A Miraculous Deliverance

News of Saint Phanourios’s miracles spread, reaching three young deacons from Crete who had been captured by Moslems and were about to be sold into slavery in Rhodes. The three men, each sold to a different master, heard about the saint and prayed to him for their freedom. In a miraculous turn of events, they were all allowed to visit the newly restored church and pray before the icon at the same time. That night, Saint Phanourios appeared to their masters, demanding their release. When the Moslems refused and treated the priests even worse, the saint intervened again, freeing them from their chains and promising their freedom the next day.

The Power of Divine Intervention

The following morning, the three Moslem masters and everyone in their homes awoke to find themselves afflicted with blindness, paralysis, and severe pain. Realizing this was divine punishment for their cruelty, they sent for the priests and begged them for a cure. Saint Phanourios appeared to them once more, instructing them to send a document to the church granting the priests their freedom. They did so, and as soon as the documents were placed before the icon of the saint, everyone who had been afflicted was immediately healed. The priests joyfully returned to Crete with a copy of the icon, where they continued to celebrate the saint’s feast day in gratitude.

The Legacy of Saint Phanourios

The name Phanourios is similar to the Greek word "phanerono," which means "to reveal" or "to disclose." This connection has led to the tradition of praying to Saint Phanourios to help find lost objects. In return for the saint's assistance, people bake a sweet bread called a Phanouropita and offer prayers for the salvation of his mother, whose name is unknown. Tradition holds that the saint promised to help those who pray for his mother, who was said to be a sinful woman. The story of Saint Phanourios is a powerful testament to faith, divine intervention, and the belief that even the most difficult situations can be overcome through prayer and grace.

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