The Miracle of the Holy Archangel Michael at Colossae (Chonae) and Venerable Archippus (4th Century) — September 6 / September 19 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 6 according to the Julian Calendar (September 19 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Miracle wrought by the Holy Archangel Michael at Colossae, which is Chonae, and Venerable Archippus. In Phrygia, near the city of Hierapolis, at a place called Herotopos (the Place of Joy), there stood a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, and beside it flowed a spring of healing water. Once the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to the parents of a girl who was deaf and mute, and told them that their daughter would be healed if they gave her the water of this spring to drink. And indeed, at the edge of the water the girl was healed. After this, many people afflicted with all manner of illnesses came to the spring. Many idolaters were convinced of the power of Christ and were baptized.

In the church of the Archangel Michael, a pious man named Archippus served as sacristan for sixty years. Through his grace-filled words and his God-pleasing life he turned many unbelievers to the true faith. The pagans, enraged at this faithful servant of God, resolved to destroy the church and to kill Archippus as well. They joined two great mountain rivers into a single channel and directed their flow toward the church. Saint Archippus fervently entreated the Archangel Michael to avert the disaster. In answer to his prayer, the Commander of the heavenly hosts struck the rock with his staff and split it open, changing the course of the raging river. Thus 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.

Venerable Archippus was the son of pious Christians who lived in the city of Hierapolis. At the age of ten he came to Chonae to venerate the church of the Holy Archangel Michael, and he remained there, fulfilling the duties of sacristan until his death. The blessed father lived a strict, ascetic life, passing his days in fasting and prayer. He converted many pagans to the true faith. The idolaters, enraged by this and 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 to drown the hated sacristan together with it. Saint Archippus, seeing the preparations for this lawless deed, would not leave the house of the Lord and prayed fervently that the calamity be averted. God heard his supplication and made the blessed father a witness of the great miracle performed there by the Archangel Michael. Having been miraculously delivered from death, Archippus gave up his soul to the Lord in deep old age, at the age of seventy. The Christians buried the holy relics of the venerable father at Chonae, the place of his labors.