Lives of Saints

Saint Sampson The Innkeeper, Physician and Priest

Commemorated on June 27

Saint Sampson was born in Rome around 700 A.D. His parents were very rich because they belonged to a family of kings. They sent their son to the best schools and educated him to be whatever he wished. Saint Sampson chose to be a physician because he liked to take care of the poor and sick.

After Sampson’s parents died, he turned his house into an inn, taking in strangers, travellers, and the homeless. He gave clothing and food to the needy. He healed the sick and took care of them until they were well enough to go back to work. He freed all his slaves except one, whom he kept to help him with his patients. Because he used all his money and property to help the poor, the Lord rewarded him with the ability to work miracles. Saint Sampson was able to heal the sick without medicine, but with prayer only.

Saint Sampson Goes to Constantinople

As he healed every kind of disease with his prayers, Saint Sampson’s name became so well known in Rome that nearly everyone went to him to be cured. In order to avoid praises from the people, he left his home to the poor and moved to Constantinople, the new capital of the Roman Empire.

There he found a small house to live in. He began the same work, healing the sick and taking care of the poor. By the grace of God he healed the paralysed, gave sight to the blind, and cured people who were so near death that no other doctor could help them.

In a very short time, Saint Sampson became even more famous in Constantinople as a skilful physician and miracle worker than he had been in Rome. Hearing about Sampson’s good deeds, Saint Menas, the Patriarch of Constantinople, made Saint Sampson a priest when he was thirty years old.

At the same time the Roman emperor, who was living in Constantinople, was Justinian the Great. He is the emperor who built the famous Church of Saint Sophia in Constantinople. The emperor became very ill, and none of his doctors could cure him. He was in such terrible pain that he wished he could die. His aides called in all the doctors in the city, but no one could help him.

After losing his faith in doctors, the emperor, who was a very pious person, fell on his knees and prayed to God to heal him. After praying a long time, he became tired and fell asleep. While he slept, he saw many doctors coming to cure him. Then he saw one very handsome doctor whose face was as bright as the sun. This doctor’s clothes were made of bright gold. He came close to the emperor, saying, “O Emperor, look at the young, humble, and poorly dressed doctor at the far end. He is the only one who can cure you. Look carefully so you can recognize him.”

The next day, when the emperor woke up, he called his aides to find this man. They brought one doctor after another, but none was the one he had seen in his dream. Finally, one of the doctors who knew the saint and had seen some of his miracles told the emperor, and the emperor sent for Saint Sampson.

When the saint arrived at the palace, the emperor recognised him and was so overjoyed to see him that he forgot all about his illness. He jumped out of bed, hugged him, and thanked him. The saint made the sign of the Cross on the emperor’s stomach, and his terrible pain was gone at once.

The emperor was so grateful for getting his health back that he gave Sampson gold and silver, but the saint returned it, saying, “O Emperor, my parents had much more gold and silver and property, but I left all that and came here to serve the Lord in poverty and humility. But if you wish to give me this gold, you can build a hospital next to my humble house for travellers, the sick and injured, and the poor.”

When the emperor heard that, he was very pleased. He asked the builders and craftsmen who had built Saint Sophia to build a large hospital as well. When it was finished, it was dedicated to the saint and named The Hospital of Sampson the Innkeeper. The emperor also gave large amounts of silver and gold to the hospital to pay for extra doctors.

Working at the hospital and performing miracles for many years, the blessed Sampson died after a short illness. At a very old age, he gave up his soul peacefully into the hands of God, and he went to Paradise to live happily forever.

After his death, many people who were sick visited his tomb, prayed to Saint Sampson, and by the grace of God were cured of their illnesses.

The Miracle of The Fire

The miracle of the fire took place while Emperor Justinian was still alive, and it was recorded in the church’s books.

A huge fire broke out near Saint Sampson’s hospital. It burned several houses in the area and then reached the hospital. Working very hard, the people tried to put out the fire and at least save their precious hospital. But the fire was so high that they could not bring it under control. Then suddenly they saw Saint Sampson walking back and forth on the roof ordering the fire to go away. O what a marvellous miracle! The fire turned back as if someone was pushing it. Finally the fire was put out completely, and the hospital was saved.

The people were so grateful that they praised and glorified God and thanked the saint for saving not only the hospital but their houses as well.

Saint Sampson Heals a Man’s Broken Legs

This miracle is about a man called Theodoritos. One bright sunny day, he was fixing his roof. When he finished, he tried to climb down the ladder. As he was coming down, his foot slipped. He fell and broke both legs. Lying flat on the ground, he was in so much pain that he could neither move nor speak. His family picked him up and carried him inside the house.

Because of his pain, Theodoritos could not eat, drink, or sleep for three days and nights. As he was lying in bed, he remembered Saint Sampson’s miracles. Not able to speak, he began praying silently to the saint and asking him for his help. At once the saint appeared to him and looked at his legs. Then he said, “Get up, Theodoritos, for there is nothing wrong with you.”

At first Theodoritos didn’t believe his legs were healed. He thought he was dreaming. But then he felt his legs with his hands and realized that the pain was gone. He knew then that the saint had healed him. With great joy, he jumped out of bed. He ran to the saint’s tomb, fell on his knees, praised and glorified God, and thanked the saint for curing him.

Saint Sampson Heals Another Man’s Leg

Here is another strange and wonderful miracle done by Saint Sampson the Innkeeper.

Theodoritos was working for a man called Leonta. One day this man was on his horse, and the horse rubbed against a wall so hard that it crushed his leg. Unable to treat his leg, the doctors decided to cut it off. The leg was infected, and the man would die if the doctors did not act soon.

They made this decision on Wednesday. That night in his dream, Theodoritos saw three men who said to him, “Tell your boss not to let the doctors cut off his leg, because on Friday Sampson the Innkeeper is coming to heal him.”

The next day, Theodoritos ran to the hospital and told his boss and the doctors about the dream. The doctors agreed to wait until Friday to see what happened. If Saint Sampson did not come, they would have to remove the leg to save Leonta’s life. Early Friday morning, Leonta woke up completely healed and walking around the room praising God and giving thanks to Saint Sampson. The nurses and doctors who saw him were amazed.

Saint Sampson also cured Leonta of other illnesses. To show his thanks, Leonta rebuilt the saint’s home, which was old and about to fall.

Saint Sampson the Innkeeper continued to perform miracles and still performs miracles for those who ask him to intercede with faith in their behalf. Every year for several days around his name day, an oil with a sweet fragrance flows from his holy relics. The people wipe it off with pieces of cotton and put it over their bodies. If they are ill, they are made well. They glorify and praise God and thank Saint Sampson the Innkeeper for his healing.

SOURCE : The Holy Unmercenary Doctors The Saints Anargyroi Physicians and Healers of the Orthodox Church – Georgia Hronas