According to a Cypriot tradition, during his travels, the Apostle Andrew also went to Cyprus. The ship that was carrying him to Antioch from Joppa was forced to stop in a small harbor at Cyprus, just before they passed the well-known now cape of the apostle Andrew and the small islands known as the Kledes, because the wind died down. During these calm days, they also ran short of water. One morning, when the captain went ashore to look for water, he took the apostle with him. Unfortunately, there’s no water anywhere. At one point, when they reached the middle of the two churches that exist today, the old and the new, which is built a little higher up, the saint knelt before a completely dry rock and prayed to God to send water. He desired the miracle so that those who were there would believe in Christ. Then he stood up, sealed the rock with the sign of the Cross, and the miracle happened. Plenty of water immediately gushed out from the base of the rock, which still flows today into a hollow in the old church and from there continues and comes out of a fountain near the sea. It’s the well-known holy spring. The blessed water, which quenched the thirst of so many, and also of countless others who took it with faith, refreshed and comforted them. And first and foremost, the captain’s blind child. He was born blind and grew up inconstant darkness. He never saw the light of day. That day, when the sailors returned with their water skins full and explained how they had found it on the island, a light of sweet hope ignited in the unfortunate child’s heart. Could this water, he wondered, that had sprung from the dry rock after their strange fellow traveler’s prayer, grant him the light he longed for as well? Since he miraculously came out, he could also perform miracles. With this faith and deep hope, the child also asked for a little water. He was thirsty. He was burning with thirst. The apostle who was there hurried and gave the child a container full of cool water. But instead of cooling his lips with the water, the child chose to wash his face first. And lo and behold! As soon as the cool water touched the child’s eyeballs, the child began to see. And the apostle, whom everyone was looking at with admiration, began to speak to them and teach them the new religion. The end of the speech was very fruitful. Those who heard him believed and were baptized. The captain started it with his child, who was also named Andreas. And then all the other passengers and some fishermen who were there. Everyone believed in Christ, whom our apostle preached to them, and was baptized. Of course, the miracle of the blind child’s healing was followed by others, and others. Meanwhile, the wind began to blow, and the ship prepared to continue its journey. The apostle, after calling together all those who had believed in Christ and been baptized, gave them his final advice and took his leave of them. Later, after many years, the Apostle Andrew’s great monastery was built on this very spot where he walked and sanctified with his prayers, miracles, and sweat. Over time, it became a pan-Cypriot pilgrimage site. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all parts of Cyprus, Orthodox, heterodox, and even those of other faiths, flocked to the monastery to venerate the miraculous image of the apostle, baptize their newborn children there, and offer their gifts to express their thanks and gratitude to the apostle. Pool of Siloam was his church for the sick. Many miracles were happening there to those who went with true faith and contrition of heart.
From the Synaxarion (Life) of Saint Andrew the Apostle
translated : Prof. Dr. Nikolaos Stergiou
Assistant Dean and Director of the Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, University of Nebraska at Omaha
A miracle of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Cyprus
