Commemoration of the Miracle Worked by the Archangel Michael at Colossae, That Is, Chonae (IV); Venerable Archippus (IV)

Commemoration of the miracle worked by the Archangel Michael at Colossae (Chonae). In Phrygia, near the city of Hierapolis, at a place called Cheretopa (the place of rejoicing), there stood a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, near which a healing spring rose. Once the Archangel Michael appeared in their sleep to the parents of a deaf and dumb girl and told them that their daughter would be healed if they gave her water from this spring to drink. And indeed, the girl was healed at the water’s edge. After this people afflicted with various illnesses came in great numbers to the spring. Many idol-worshippers were convinced of the might of Christ and were baptised.

For sixty years a pious man named Archippus served as sacristan in the church of the Archangel Michael. By his grace-filled word and God-pleasing life he converted many of the godless to the true faith. The pagans, raging against this faithful servant of God, decided to destroy the church and kill Archippus as well. They joined two great mountain rivers into one bed and directed their course towards the church. Saint Archippus fervently besought the Archangel Michael to avert the disaster. In answer to his prayer the leader of the heavenly host split the rock with a stroke of his staff and changed the course of the raging river. In this way the church remained unharmed. The pagans who witnessed this miracle scattered in terror, while Saint Archippus and the Christians gathered at the church glorified the Lord and gave thanks to the Archangel Michael.

The Venerable Archippus was the son of pious Christians living in the city of Hierapolis. He came to Chonae at the age of ten to venerate the church of the holy Archangel Michael, stayed there, and until his death carried out the duties of sacristan. The blessed father lived a strict ascetic life and spent his days in fasting and prayer. He converted many pagans to the true faith. Enraged by this, the idol-worshippers, led by their priests, tried more than once to kill Saint Archippus, but the Lord protected His chosen one. At last the pagans decided to flood the place where the church stood and destroy the hated sacristan too. Saint Archippus, seeing the preparations for this lawless deed, did not leave the house of the Lord and prayed fervently that the disaster might be averted. God heard his prayer and made the blessed father a witness of the great miracle worked here by the Archangel Michael. Miraculously saved from death, Archippus commended his soul to the Lord in deep old age, at seventy. The Christians committed the venerable father’s holy remains to the earth at Chonae, the place of his labours.