Saint Achillius of Larissa

Saint Achillius of Larissa, also known as Achilles, Ailus, Achillas, or Achilius (Greek: Άγιος Αχίλλειος, Ágios Achílleios) (died 330 AD), was a 4th century bishop of Larissa and one of the 318 persons present at the First Council of Nicaea. His feast day is on 15 May. Achillius was metropolitan of Larissa in Thessaly, Greece. Achillius is mainly remembered for his vehement defense of orthodoxy during the Council of Nicea and a miracle he performed in testimony against Arianism. Upon returning from the Council, Achillius is reputed to have "cast down many pagan temples, built many churches, [and] cast out many demons". The 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia makes issue to reference Achillius in its article about the bishopric of Larissa. Achillius died in Larissa in the year 330. When Samuel, Emperor of Bulgaria, conquered Thessaly, he translated the relics of Achillius to Prespa, to an island in a lake that was subsequently named after the saint. A district of Larissa is called Saint Achellios after this saint.