Saint Photeine of Cyprus, Wonderworker

Commemorated on August 2.

It is not known just when Saint Photeini [Photeinḗ - known on Cyprus as Saint Photou (Phótou) the wonderworker] lived, nor is there any information about her early life. Tradition tells us that she was born in Rizokarpaso to simple, but pious parents.

From a young age, Photou stood out from her peers for her kindness, her attitude, her willingness to serve others, and her virtue. Her large bright eyes reflected the richness of her heart and they spread trust and joy everywhere. Photou was taught her first letters at the village school. She learned to read by memorizing the various Psalms and hymns of our Church.

When she reached marriageable age, the Saint left her home and went to a cave to live a life of asceticism. In that cave the pure and heroic daughter spent the rest of her life: a life of perseverance and prayer, a life of self-control and complete dedication to Christ the heavenly Bridegroom.

Her holy relics were buried and then discovered in the cave between 1718 - 1732 with a carved inscription on her reliquary: "Photeini, the Virgin Bride of Christ." Today she continues to offer healing to the sick, sight to the blind, as well as spiritual rest and joy to the afflicted.

Saint Photeinis hermitage still exists today and is located in the village of Saint Andronikos. One enters through a narrow opening and descends a staircase of twenty-three steps made from domestic stones. The cave looks like a catacomb, like those used by the early Christians. At the bottom of the cave there is a spring of holy water. The sick take this water and wash their limbs so they might be healed.

The Saint is particularly invoked for curing diseases of the eyes. Finally, during the dark years of the Turkish Yoke, the cave of the Venerable one was also used as a church.

A piece of the Saint's holy relics is to be found in Kykkos Monastery, on Cyprus.