St Triphyllius of Cyprus, Bishop of Leucosia (+c. 370)
Saint Triphyllius, Bishop of Leucosia (c. 370), was born in Constantinople and educated in Berytus (Beirut, Syria). Deeply learned and possessed of a wonderful gift of eloquence, the saint chose as his teacher the humble ascetic distinguished by holiness, Spyridon of Trimythous (+348, commemorated 12 December). Once the Emperor Constantius II (337–361) fell gravely ill; no medicine and no physician could help him. The good God looked mercifully on the sick man and sent him a vision in his sleep: an angel pointed to two fathers standing in an assembly of bishops and said: “Only they can heal thee.” The emperor sent letters throughout the empire and summoned all the hierarchs to him. Among those who came he easily recognised Saint Spyridon and his disciple Triphyllius; he bowed down before them and asked them to pray for him. The hierarch Spyridon laid his hand on the emperor’s head and healed him. Saint Triphyllius was much captivated by the beauty of the palace, the majestic appearance of the emperor, and the rich life of the royal court. His teacher said to him: “What has so delighted thee? Does this splendour make the king any more righteous? Hast thou forgotten that all, kings and nobles alike, will die like the last of the beggars and will stand with them before the Lord? We must seek eternal good and heavenly glory.”
Soon Saint Triphyllius was consecrated hierarch of the Cypriot city of Leucosia. Once the bishop, together with his teacher, came to a very charming region. Now he was delighted by the beauty of nature and the abundance of fruitful gardens and vineyards, and began to think of buying this land. Spyridon discerned his thoughts and said to him: “Why dost thou always think of the earthly and the vain? Our treasure and our inheritance are in heaven, and it is there that we must strive.”
Triphyllius became renowned for his learning and eloquence, and so, when a council of hierarchs met on Cyprus, he was charged with instructing the people from the ambo. Speaking of the Saviour’s healing of the paralysed man, Triphyllius used the word “couch” instead of “bed”. Saint Spyridon could not bear the inexact rendering of the Gospel text, and said angrily to his spiritual son: “Art thou better than He who used the word ‘bed’? Art thou ashamed to repeat the words of the Saviour?” This was a lesson in obedience and humility for Saint Triphyllius. So, step by step, his teacher led him towards spiritual perfection.
The hierarch Triphyllius governed his flock wisely. He was distinguished by compassion, gentleness, firmness in the Orthodox faith, love of God and neighbour, and many other virtues. With the property left him by his mother the saint built a monastery in Leucosia. He died in deep old age, around 370.
