St. Achilles icon

Orthodox icon of Saint Achilles.

Commemorated May 15.

Saint Achilles, Bishop of Larissa, lived during the fourth century, during the reign of St Constantine the Great. He became Bishop of Larissa in Thessaly. St Achilles participated in the First Ecumenical Council, denouncing the teaching of the heretic Arius. He preached the Gospel in his city, destroyed pagan temples, and built and adorned churches. St Achilles had the gift of healing sickness, especially demonic possession, and he worked many miracles. Saint Achilles died about the year 330. His relics have been in Prespa, Bulgaria (now the village of Akhila, renamed in honor of the saint) since 978.