Born into a family of shepherds, Spiridon followed the family occupation like David the King and Prophet, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He married and had children, but his wife died early in their marriage. A single parent, Spiridon not only earned a living and raised his children, but also found the time and the resources to be conspicuously hospitable to strangers and to the poor.
As he grew in the love of God and man, God gave him the gift of healing the sick and driving out demon s with a single word. As a result of his holy life and the miracles God performed through him, Spiridon was chosen and ordained bishop of his home town, the city of Tremithus on the island of Cyprus during the reign of St. Constantine the Great.
