6/19 September

In Phrygia, not far from the city of Hierapolis, in a place called Kherotopa, there was a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Near the church there flowed a healing spring. The church was built through the efforts of a resident of the city of Laodicea, in thanks to God and to the Archangel Michael for the healing of his mute daughter with waters from the spring; the maiden received healing at the spring, and began to speak. Following this miracle, the father, his daughter and his entire family were baptized. Thereafter, through the father’s efforts, a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael was erected. Both Christians and pagans began coming to the spring for healing. Many of the pagans renounced their idol-worship and turned to faith in Christ. A person named Archippus served for over 60 years as a sacristan at that church. Through his preaching of Christ and by the example of his God-pleasing life, the pious man brought many pagans to faith in Christ. Pagans who hated Christians in general especially hated Archippus, who never left the church and who served as an example to all who served Christ. They decided to destroy the church and at the same time to do harm to Archippus. To this end, they diverted two mountain streams into one watercourse directed toward the church. St. Archippus fervently prayed to the Archangel Michael, asking him to turn away their misfortune. By those prayers, Archangel Michael appeared near the church, and, striking the rock with his staff, opened a wide fissure in the mountain and ordered the torrent to flow into it. Thus, the church remained unharmed. At the sight of such a wonderful miracle, the pagans fled in terror. St. Archippus and the Christians assembled in the church praised God, and offered thanks unto Holy Archangel Michael for his assistance. The site of the miracle became known as Chonae, which means “fissure” or “plunging.”