THE HISTORY OF THE ERECTION OF THE SHRINE OF SAINT MICHAEL TAXIARCHIS AND THE MIRACLES OF THE MIRACULOUS ICON OF SAINT MICHAEL TAXIARCHIS

THE MIRACULOUS ICON OF THE TAXIARCHIS MICHAEL (PANORMITIS)
In June 1937 during my visit to my birthplace, Symi, Dodecanese, Greece, I visited the Holy Abbey of Taxiarchis Michael of Panormitis, with the purpose of fulfilling an old promise of my husband to Taxiarchis when he was in danger while on a voyage when he was a seaman. During my visit to the Abbey, I met Chrysanthos, at the time Abbot Prior of the Monastery, to whom I dleivered the offering which my husband promised. The Abbot Prior thanked me for the offering, and to show his gratitude, took a small silver Icon which was hanging in the Church, portraying the Taxiarchis Michael, and offered it to me. As I held the Icon in my hands, chills of emotion and awe seized my body and soul immediately. After six months in Symi, I came back to my home in Tarpon Springs, Florida where I have been living since 1925. At my arrival, I put my Holy Icon of the Taxiarchus on a table under my Iconostasion together with a special sacred lamp. A year later, on the 6th of November, 1938, about 9pm, a few relatives and I were conversing about miscellaneous subjects. All of a sudden, we heard the sound of a Church bell, the same as that of the Holy Abbey of Taxiarchis of Panormitis, in Symi. This sound was coming from the Icon of Taxiarchis, which was on the table. The sound lasted until 3am the next day. Indescribable was the emotion which seized all of us. At 7am the same day, I visited our Reverend Priest of the parochial Holy Church of Saint Nicholas of Tarpon Springs, Father Theophilos Karaphilis, and related to him what had occurred, According to Father Theophilos' instructions, I brought the Icin to Church where a holy ceremony of breaking the holy bread was performed, because of this strange incident. It is important to state at this point that the following day was the Holy Day of Saint Michael Taxiarchis. After eight days I took the Icon from the Church and brought it home. This event repeated itself the following year and the next one. The same Church ceremony was repeated.


MY SON STEVE IS VERY SICK
After a month, in December 1939, my son Steve, the second born, became sick with a temperature, At first this did not disturb me, as I thought it was the usual light cold. But day by day, the temperature ebcame higher and this began to worry me. I called the doctor who advised he be admitted to a hospital. Immediately I took Steve to the hospital of Saint Joseph at Tampa, Florida. While in the hospital, his condition became worse. More than 15 distinguished doctros and professors looked after Steve, bit no one was able to give his opinion as to what was wrong with my son. Since the day of his entry in the hospital, I was near him, because that is what he wished. Also, he asked me to lay my hand on his forehead, because it made him feel as if it was the hand of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he felt much better. Day after day passed without any improvement shown. Every day he wa slosing weight and he began to look like a skeleton. He did not eat, did not speak, and did not recognize anyone. Three months passed and one day the doctors notified me that there was no hope l;eft, and I had to notify my husband, who at that time was on a trip, to return immediately so that we could be with our son to the end.


STEVE ASKS FOR THE ICON OF THE TAXIARCHIS AND TALKS WITH HIM
While Steve was in a coma, all of a sudden, he said to me:"Mama, I want you to bring me the Icon of the Taxiarchis." At once I asked my koumpara, Sophia Kardoulia, to go to my home and bring the Icon. Mrs. Kardoulia had not yet returned to the hospital when my son started to say, "Mama, the Taxiarchis came." But before he finsihed the statement, Mrs. Kardoulia entered the room. As soon as Steve saw the Icon he asked that we put it on his breast. He crossed his hands on the Icon and started to ramble. I heard him say, "Yes, but my mother has no money." And then he said, "Mama, Taxiarchis wants you to build His Shrine." And I answered, "Yes, Steve, I will." But I really did not mean it; I jsut wanted to satisfy Steve, who I thought was in a state of delirium. Steve continued to talk on, but all who were present were unable to understand what he was saying. Suddenly, I heard my son addressing me, "Mama, say yes with your heart, for he says tommorrow at 1oam I will be cured." Only at this time did I udnerstand that this was an intervention of the Divine Grace of Taxiarchis and it was His wish to erect His Shrine. Then I faitfhully promised and said,"I will do it." Although my economic situation would not allow me such expenses, I said to my son, "Yes, Steve, yes, my Steve, with all my heart, I will erect His Shrine, as long as He wishes it." This conversation between Steve and Taxiarchis ;asted seven hours, until midnight, and then my son slept quietly until 10am the enxt day.


STEVE CURED BY TAXIARCHIS
At 10am the next day, Steve woke up and told me, "You see Mama, I am cured," and at the same time he tried to get up from his bed. At this moment the attending doctor, Dr. Cook, was coming in his room, and as he saw this he was astonished. But Dr. Cook soon recovered from the shock and said to Steve, "You see Steve, you are cured." "Taxiarchis cured me," was Steve's reply. "Yes, Steve,: said Dr. Cook, the Taxiarchis cured you and I too prayed to Jesus Christ to cure you because I was not able to cure you."

A CURED STEVE LEAVES THE HOSPITAL TO GO HOME
From that day on Steve was feeling very well and by the evening of the same day he had gained five pounds. After three more days in he hospital the doctors let Steve go home. In a few days my son went to school.


MY ACTIVITIES FOR THE ERECTION OF THE SHRINE
Since the day Steve came home, my attention was directed toward the proper way to erect the Shrine. First, I visited the Archbishop Athenagroas to whom I related the story of my son Steve and my plans fo erecting the Shrine for Taxiarchis. The Archbishop did not allow me to buold it saying that I should not believe the dreams of an 11 year old boy. Also he told me that in order to please Taxiarchis I should make a large Icon of Taxiarchis and take it to the Church of Saint Nicholas, where his name day would be celebrated every year. Though I insisted on building the Shrine, the Archbishop would not let me because he was afradi it would become a parochial Church and, therefore, be damaging to the economics of Saint Nicholas Church. For a whole year, I was pushing myself to get the permit to build the Shrine, but unfortunately my efforts did not bring any results. A few days later Taxiarchis appeared in my dream, caught me by the arm and took me to the place where His Shrine is now bult, he said to me, " Here you shall buold the Shrine and you will build it a certain size." Taxiarchis further told me that I ahve to pour three drops of Holy Water to start the foundation. I told Him the Archbishop did not allow me. But He said to me again, "You must start it and I will help finish it." The next day I visited the Archbishop again and told him the covnersation with Taxiarchis and showed him the marks on my arm made my Taxiarchis' hand. After all these events he still did not want to grant me the permission to build the Shrine. I orginally had bought the land to build my daughter, Goldie's hosue. I poured the Holy Water and the work for erection began, In a very short time the Shrine was built and in a year the Shrine was ready for Liturgy. Much to my distress, the Srchbishop, the President of the Community, and the local Greek authorities told em that they would not allow a Liturgy to be served in the Shrine. This situation upset me to no end. A few days later, the Taxiarchis appeared before me and said to me, "Do not fear. Everything will be all right." The next morning, as I was going to light the candles, I saw Bishop GERMANOS (Polyzoides) in the Shrine chanting the Hymn of Taxiarchis. When he finished, I approached him. He congratulated me for my Faith and my work, and said ti me that I have his permission to have Liturgies in the Shrine. My happiness was indescribable and I discovered another miracle. Since that time, the Shrine celebrates with the most magnificent Liturgy. Many come to honor the Archangel Michael.


A LITTLE BLIND GIRL RECEIVES HER SIGHT
In the year 1943, a short time after the Shrine was built, among the pilgrims was a mother who had with her a small daughter, six years old. The girl had lost her sight when she was two years old, because of disease. Her mother told me that she dreamt Taxiarchis told her to bring the child to this Shrine and she would get her sight back. After a request prayer by Father Karaphilis, the girl immediately regained her sight.

A CRIPPLED WOMAN CURED
Mrs. Tavlandos, from Chicago, suffering from an incurable disease and unable to walk, had a friend suggest that she visit the Shrine. So she came with the intention of spending all night in the Shrine. I told her it was my duty to keep her company until midnight. And so at midnight I left her. The next morning I went to the Shrine, but she was not there, The same afternoon, I met her in the Shrine. She was in the best of health and started telling me that she remained in the Shrine until morning when she felt perfectly well and she was able to walk without the help of her crutches.


DEAF WOMAN RECOVERS HER HEARING
During the Holy Week of the year 1954, a 36 year old woman, accompanied by her brother in law, came to the Shrine to receive the Holy Unction, and according to what she told me later, she felt a humming in her ears and on her way home regained her hearing which she had lost 18 years before.


THE SHRINE'S BELL RINGS DURING THE NIGHT
On July 19th of 1958 about 11pm, while I was with some relatives discussing the miracles of Taxiarchis, we all heard the Shrine's bell ring two times. We thought that someone was ringing the bell as they were passing by. We went to see who it was. We did not see anybody and the rope was in place. This happened three more times before a new miracle took place. This was taken as a sign of the coming miracle.


CRIPPLED WOMAN OPERATED NINE TIMES AND NOT CURED: SHE IS CURED NOW THROUGH TAXIARCHIS' MIRACLE
On July 13, 1958 at 2pm, Mrs. Gerolmos came into the Dhrine having been advised by Mrs. Tavlandos. What I saw was tragic. her son carried her into the Shrine and Mr. Markopolous helped her get settled. I rushed over and helped sit her in fron of the Icon of Taxiarchis. She started to cry inconsoloably. I tried to console her and give her strength and tell her that Taxiarchis would not forget her. At that time, Mrs. Gerolmos asked us to help her kneel. As she was crying I was making the sign of the Cross on her knees with a piece of cotton dipped in the oil of Taxiarchis. A few minutes after we brought Mrs. Gerolmos to her knees, Mrs. Gerolmos stood up and started running around the Shrine. Everyone watching was dumbfounded and could not speak. At the request of Mrs. Gerolmos, I called Father Raptis of Saint Nicholas Church who came right away. Mrs. Gerolmos related the story to Father and asked him to pray before the Icon. After the prayer, Mrs. Gerolmos placed her crutches before the Icon of Taxiarchis, and departed for home.
I am sorry that I cannot relate the many other miracles that I myself have seen. I think that those which I related are enough so each Christian soul should believe in the power and Grace of Almight God and the Archangel, who willingly offer their help to and guidance to all who approach with faith and ask their aid.


MARIE DIM TSALICHIS
113 Hope Street
Tarpon Springs, FL, USA