Born in the town of Askia in Cyprus in the year 270AD Spyridon, a shepherd, had a normal life, married and had one daughter (Irene).  However, after the death of his wife his life changed, he joined a monastery and his daughter joined a convent.

Spyridon became Bishop of Tremithous, a small town close to Paphos on Cyprus where he was outspoken about Arianism (the belief that Jesus was not the son of God as argued by Arius, a Christian priest from Egypt).  Even as a bishop he did not change his simple lifestyle continuing to take charge of his cattle himself and tilling his own land. He consumed very little of his own produce, giving the greater part to the poor. He also dressed so simply that once when he was invited by the Emperor to the imperial court, a soldier mistook him for a beggar and hit him.  He is said to have performed great wonders, making rain fall in a time of drought, stopping the course of a river, raising several from the dead, healing and foreseeing future events.   He devoted his life to converting many people to the Orthodox Faith.

His first reported miracle was when he converted a pagan philosopher to Christianity.  He used a clay pot to show how a single item could comprise of three entities, in this case (fire, water and clay - i.e. the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Trinity).  As soon as Spyridon had finished speaking, the pot is said to have burst into flames, water dripped to the ground until only dust remained in his hand. 
St. Spyridon died in the year 348AD and when the Arabs conquered Cyprus, his body was taken to Constantinople.  His body was found to be preserved, and contained a sprig of basil, the "royal plant," both of which were taken as a sign of divine confirmation of his sanctity.
In 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Turks, Spyridon's body was removed again; this time, to Corfu by a Corfiot monk called Kalohairetis.   His body remains here to this day.
 
Even though is known to be the patron saint of potters (because of his first miracle), he is better known as St. Spyridon, the Keeper of the City of Corfu for expelling the plague.  The island of Corfu was twice hit by the deadly disease and it is said that for 3 nights a light was seen on the bell-tower of his Church and the figure of Saint Spyridon, holding cross in one hand, appeared to be driving the plague away.  There is a scratch on one of the old fort fortification stones (which can still be seen today) and it is believed by the faithful, that this was caused by the plagues fury for being expelled from the island.

St. Spyridon is also believed to have saved the island from the Turkish invasion in 1716. It is said that after 22 days of invading Corfu, some of the Turkish soldiers saw St Spyridon as a monk threatening them with a lit torch.  This increased their panic against the Corfiot defences (led by Count Schulenburg) and they fled.   After the victorious outcome of the battle, Venice honoured Count Schulenburg for this and also praised the miraculous intervention of St. Spyridon for successfully defending the island.  Vivaldi was subsequently commissioned to write an opera in celebration of the victory (Juditha triumphans).