The entire island of Symi in the Dodecanese, except for Panormitis Monastery, was filled with locusts that would not go away with any pesticide. Then the locals went via the Metropolis of Rhodes to the Sacred Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Patmos and asked for the wonderworking Skull of the Apostle Thomas, which is kept there, in order for a procession to take place to prevent further devastation. The same thing, as they had heard, had taken place in the olden days with successful results.
The Monastery in Patmos responded to the request of the Symians and the Skull was brought to their island on Sunday the 14th of May, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Spyridon of Rhodes, the Reverend Abbot of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and Patriarchal Exarch of Patmos Isidore, and brothers from the Monastery.
A procession was formed immediately and the holy case was deposited in the Cathedral Church of the Honorable Forerunner in Symi. The procession was followed by the Interior Minister Mr. Stratos, who was on the island to celebrate the Liberation of the Dodecanese, the prefect, members of the parliament from the Dodecanese and other military and civilian authorities.
After the procession, the Skull was moved to Pedi in Symi, where there are gardens and fields, and immediately the locusts began to flee and they fell into the sea. The locals became moved and excited, they did their cross and they glorified God.
The miraculous power of the Skull was reported in the Rhodian press. The newspaper Progress wrote on May 16th:
"You would not have believed it but it is true! We saw it with our own eyes. All the locusts of Symi died, immediately after the procession that took place with the wonderworking Skull of the Apostle Thomas, that was brought from Patmos for this purpose.
These phrases were spoken by many Syrians, who returned yesterday afternoon from Symi, after a two-day trip they had taken on the occasion of the festival there.
Yesterday morning supplications took place in the Cathedral Church of Saint John in Symi, officiated by Metropolitan Spyridon together with the Abbots of Patmos and Panormitis, with priests, authorities and the people of the island. After the prayers a procession took place, in the hopes that the locusts would disappear, which had spread out over the island and became a real scourge for plants and crops.
A few hours after the procession, as reported by travelers, piles of dead locusts were seen at the edges of roads and fields.
It is said that the Skull of the Apostle Thomas is wonderworking, but especially in cases where there is agricultural damage by insects or other diseases."
Source: Ekklesiastiki Aletheia, June 1, 1978. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
