Saint Amfilochios Bishop of Iconium
Date of celebration: 23/11
Agios Amfilochios was a Cappadocian, a contemporary of Basil the Great and his friend.
Distinguished for his great education and piety, he was appointed bishop of Iconium in the year 344 AD. He was an excellent bishop and participated in the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, where he excelled. Amphilochius did not only have authority in his own Church, but his moral authority had extended to other areas as well.
Thus, he also intervened in nearby Churches, where he ensured peace and corrected the word of truth. Because in his work, he was guided by the divinely inspired words of the Apostle Paul: “Study yourself as a disciple to present yourself to God, work without shame, correcting the word of truth”. (2 Timothy, v. 15).
That is, says the Apostle Paul, try to present yourself to God as a tested and perfect worker, who is not ashamed of his well-made work, and correctly teaches the word of truth. In the letter to Amphilochius, Basil the Great reveals the brilliant moral character of Amphilochius. He begs him to attend the feast of honor for the martyrs of Caesarea, so that it will be more modest, because the people of Caesarea love him more than any other bishop.
Amphilochius composed several discourses on our Orthodoxy, and died peacefully in the year 394 AD.
