Archippus of Chairotopa

Venerable Archippus of Chairotopa was an ascetic of the fourth century, born at Hierapolis in Phrygia of Christian parents. He is commemorated on 6 September by the old calendar (19 September by the new), on the day of the feast of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Chonae (Colossae).

According to his life, Archippus was born in Phrygia, in the city of Hierapolis. At ten he came to the place called Chairotopa, near the city of Chonae (Colossae). There stood a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, built by one of the citizens in thanksgiving for the healing of his daughter by the waters of a healing spring at that place. Archippus remained at the church forever, performing the duties of sacristan. Living beside the church, he led a strict ascetic life, in unceasing fasting and prayer. Around Chairotopa lived pagans, to whom Archippus preached the Gospel. Many of them received baptism through his preaching.

The obstinate pagans, headed by the priests of the idols, filled with hatred against Archippus, decided to destroy the church and at the same time to kill him. For this they joined into a single stream two mountain rivers, Lykokapros and Kouphos, and then directed the stream toward the church. Archippus prayed to the Archangel Michael to avert the disaster and to preserve the church. Through his prayer the Archangel Michael appeared; he struck the mountain with his staff, opened in it a wide cleft, into which the water of the stream rushed, and the church remained untouched. The city where this miracle took place began to be called Chonae (cleft, opening). The event is called the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Chonae and is celebrated every year on 6 September. Archippus lived unceasingly beside the church until old age and died at the age of 70. The Christians buried him at Chairotopa, in the place of his labours.