Venerable Anthimos Kourouklis, the Blind Ascetic of Kefallonia, who reposed on September 4th 1782, is also associated with the Greek island of Astypalea where he did missionary work and performed a number of miracles. It was here that he helped exterminate a huge serpent that nested in a small cave in the northeast of the island, known to this day as Drakospilia or Drakontospilaio (translated as Dragon Cave).
The serpent instilled such fear in the inhabitants that the entire area beyond the narrow part of the island was uninhabited. The Saint advised them to cultivate the rest of the island in order to survive; however, he encountered their resistance due to the serpent. Then Anthimos, accompanied by a few faithful witnesses to the remarkable miracle that followed, crossed the narrow passage of the island and reached an elevation from where the cave of the dragon could be discerned.
At the Saint's urging, they cut down wild cypresses that were abundant in the area, and formed a large pile with them, like a kind of haystack. When they had finished their work, they saw the monstrous reptile approaching them from afar.
The serpent instilled such fear in the inhabitants that the entire area beyond the narrow part of the island was uninhabited. The Saint advised them to cultivate the rest of the island in order to survive; however, he encountered their resistance due to the serpent. Then Anthimos, accompanied by a few faithful witnesses to the remarkable miracle that followed, crossed the narrow passage of the island and reached an elevation from where the cave of the dragon could be discerned.
At the Saint's urging, they cut down wild cypresses that were abundant in the area, and formed a large pile with them, like a kind of haystack. When they had finished their work, they saw the monstrous reptile approaching them from afar.
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| Drakospilia or Dragon Cave in Astypalea |
They reported this to the Saint, who advised them to move a little further away and leave it alone. He himself remained praying, begging the Most Holy Theotokos to redeem Her place from this satanic plot. Indeed, upon arriving, the serpent curled up on the stack, which even gave way under its weight. Immediately, people approached and, at the instigation of the Holy Father Anthimos, they lit fires on the pile. The once fearsome reptile burned, without moving from its position or reacting at all.
According to the testimonies of the inhabitants, no grass grows at that spot to this day. Saint Anthimos has since become known as the hunter and the terrorizer of serpents, and is given the epithet of "Ophiodioktis" or "Serpent-Hunter".
For this reason, the nuns of the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Eleousa in Kalymnos have painted an icon of the Saint, which remains in the Metochion of Saint Macrina in a remote rural location on the island, and serves as an alexiterium from reptiles.
According to the testimonies of the inhabitants, no grass grows at that spot to this day. Saint Anthimos has since become known as the hunter and the terrorizer of serpents, and is given the epithet of "Ophiodioktis" or "Serpent-Hunter".
For this reason, the nuns of the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Eleousa in Kalymnos have painted an icon of the Saint, which remains in the Metochion of Saint Macrina in a remote rural location on the island, and serves as an alexiterium from reptiles.
