Our Holy Fathers Patermuthius and Copres.

Commemorated July 9 in the Orthodox Christian Menaion

From the Prologue

Although they have the same name, these two are different from the above. This Patermuthius was at first a robber leader, but, after a wondrous vision, he turned to the true Faith. What happened was this: he had climbed onto the roof of a house belonging to a devout woman, with the intention of getting into the house that way and stealing. Sleep fell on him, and he saw in a dream a Man who commanded him to cease doing evil and repent. He was not only baptised but also became a monk.

Both of them were great wonderworkers. By God's grace, they healed men of every pain and ill, brought sinners back to the true path and had the gift of prophecy. A sinner lying on his deathbed begged Patermuthius to prolong his life that he might repent. The saint prayed, and then told him that God had given him three ears more. The sinner repented, and died exactly three years later. They entered into rest in the Lord in great old age, at the end of the fourth century.

From The Prologue From Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
©1985 Lazarica Press, Birmingham UK