St. Fanourios Honored Today

Saint Fanourios, who lived during Roman times, took a brave stance against paganism, for the Christian spirit of this man of God did not allow him to deny his unquestionably virtuous principles.

Saint Fanourios, who martyred for his faith, teaches us, according to the Church, that the crown of a virtuous life is not easily won but only through continuous tests – with boldness, patience and perseverance.

Little is known of his life

Nothing certain is known concerning the lineage and the life of Saint Fanourios because all the information about his life was lost during turbulent times. The only information we have concerning the Saint is the discovery of his icon, around 1500 AD according to the Synaxarion, or according to other sources around 1355-1369 AD. Some maintain that the icon of the Saint was found on Rhodes but others say on Cyprus.
 

The icon

When Turks ruled Rhodes they decided to rebuild the wall of the city, which they had demolished and leveled a few years previously. They started to send workers outside the south part of the citadel to gather stones from the semi-ruined houses of the inhabitants, to rebuild the new and strong walls of the city. Among the ruins they discovered a most beautiful church which was partially destroyed on one side. Inside they discovered a multitude of icons, which due to time, had become blurred and distorted.

Only one magnificent icon stood apart from the rest, one that time did not affect, which depicted a youth dressed as a soldier. The Metropolitan of Rhodes, Nilus, went immediately to the site and clearly read the name of the Saint, Fanourios. The Metropolitan, moved by the appearance of the saint, saw that he was dressed as a Roman Soldier, holding a cross in his left hand and a lit candle in his right. Around the icon the iconographer had also painted the twelve depictions of the martyrdom that the saint had suffered, clearly telling of his martyrdom in defence of his faith.