In Galatia of the Asian Paphlagonia there was a farmer called Metrios. So, he was seeing his neighbor who had sons and was preparing them for Constantinople to become officers and servants of the king. Then Metrios prayed to God, saying: “Lord, though I am your unworthy servant, grant me a male child that I may have him as a companion in my old age.” After praying, he then went to the fair that was held every year in Paphlagonia. On the way back, he stopped at a little forest to water his animals. There he found a pouch with 1500 coins in it. It was sealed and without opening it, he took it home. The next year, he went again to the fair of Paphlagonia, and when it was over, Metrios went and stood in the little forest where he found the coins and watched the people passing by. Then someone appeared, looking for something and sighing heavily. Metrios asked him why he was sighing so much, and he replied that last year he had a lot of goods which he sold at the fair and had collected 1500 coins which he had lost in this forest. Then Metrios took out the purse he had found and showed it to him. The merchant, when he saw it, fell down unconscious with joy. The poor Metrios brought him to his senses, and they both unsealed the pouch, counted the coins and it was indeed 1500. The merchant then wanted to give him the 500, but he would not accept anything. So, after they both thanked God, they parted. That night, when Metrios fell asleep, he saw in his sleep an angel of the Lord, who told him that he would have a male child, that he would name him Constantine, and that he would bring a great blessing to his house. And so it was, after a certain time his wife gave birth to a little boy, who grew up, was educated in Constantinople, and the king raised him to the rank of patricius. Thus, he brought many goods to his family, and God rewarded Metrios in this way for his honest deed.
From the Synaxarion of June 1st
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
