Church commemorates miracle of Archangel Michael in Chonae

The icon of the Miracle of Archangel Michael at Chonae. Photo: open sources

On September 19 (September 6 according to the Julian calendar), the Church commemorates the miracle of Saint Archangel Michael, which took place in the locality of Chonae (ancient Colossae) in Phrygia, Asia Minor.

In the 4th century, there was a healing spring in this place, near which a pious hermit named Archippus settled. The spring became famous for numerous healings of the sick, who came to the waters with faith and received help through prayers to Archangel Michael. Over time, a church was built near the spring in honor of the holy Archangel, and Archippus became its sexton, serving tirelessly at the temple.

The miraculous healings attracted many Christians, which aroused the hatred of the local pagans. They repeatedly attempted to fill the spring with earth and stones, but the water invariably found its way. Then the opponents of the Christian faith devised a more radical plan – they decided to direct the waters of two mountain rivers onto the temple so that the powerful flow would destroy the sanctuary and kill the elderly Archippus.

As the flow approached the temple, Saint Archangel Michael appeared to Archippus in all his heavenly glory and commanded him to take a staff and strike a large rock near the church. Obeying the heavenly command, the elder struck the rock with the staff, and a deep fissure formed in the stone. The turbulent waters rushed into this fissure and went underground, causing no harm to the temple.

Astonished by the miracle, the pagans believed in Christ, and the place was named "Chonae," meaning "funnels", after the fissure that swallowed the waters.

The miracle at Chonae reminds believers of the constant intercession of heavenly forces, strengthens faith in God's Providence over the world, and shows that no evil forces can overcome those who trust in the Lord and call upon His saints for help.

In the place of ancient Chonae (Colossae), where the miracle of Archangel Michael occurred, is now present-day Turkey. Honaz is a modern city in the Denizli province with a population of about 33,000 people.

Today, the remnants of one column mark the place where, according to local residents, the church once stood, possibly the church of Archangel Michael.

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