Archbishop
Saint Arsenius was born in Palestine into a devout family. For a long time his parents were childless, and when Arsenius was born they dedicated him to the service of God. He was given to a monastery, where he learned the monastic life and received a good education. At the age of twelve the future hierarch was tonsured a monk. He then went to Seleucia (Syria). There, having perfected his knowledge in the sciences, he was ordained a presbyter. The ship on which Arsenius was returning to Jerusalem was seized by pirates. The saint addressed the robbers with wise and gentle words and thus brought them to repentance. After venerating the holy places, Arsenius departed for Constantinople. Patriarch Tryphon (928–931) entrusted him with the “care of the churches.” Possibly Arsenius received the post of oikonomos (steward).
Under Patriarch Theophylact, around the year 933, for his virtues he was elected Bishop of Kerkyra. During a raid by the Scythians on the island, the hierarch went out to the robbers with words of admonition. The saint was taken captive. The bewildered inhabitants of Kerkyra, seeing his self-sacrifice, were filled with courage and made every effort to secure the hierarch’s release.
Saint Arsenius became renowned for his wisdom, learning, and charity. More than once he interceded for the innocent before the authorities. Thus, already in old age, he went to Constantinople to plead for his flock, which was threatened by the unjust wrath of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. On his return from Constantinople, Saint Arsenius fell ill on the way and reposed in Corinth around the year 953.
His relics were transferred to Kerkyra and placed in the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Even during his lifetime the saint received from God the gift of healing and wonderworking. His holy relics also became famous for many miracles.
