A Roman Centurion, the holy Martyr Gordios became incensed when he saw the way that his fellow countrymen who were Christians were being treated during Diocletian’s persecution. Deserting his post in protest, the Saint fled into the wilderness where he determined to cleanse his nous from the taint of the atrocities he witnessed through fasting, prayer, vigil, and meditation on Holy Scripture. Having undergone true martial training in the desert, the Martyr returned to Cappadocia during a feast to the so-called god Mars, and proclaimed his allegiance to the One True God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Dragged before the Governor, Saint Gordius boldly repeated his confession and expressed His desire to suffer for the faith. Threatened with the vilest torments a depraved mind could conceive, the Soldier of Christ stood fast, lamenting only that he had could give his life but once for the Lord. The Devil then sought to undermine his resolve by inspiring his family and friends to visit him in prison, playing on the bonds of affection. The Martyr resisted the temptation through the remembrance of death and exhorted his loved ones to care only for the eternal and not the temporal. Having persevered to the end, Saint Gordios received the crown of Martyrdom by beheading.
Category: Martyr
Indicates saints who were martyred for the Faith.
Martyr Anthusa of Seleucia
Inspired by the holy reputation of Saint Athanius Bishop of Tarsus, Saint Anthusa desired to learn the Christian Faith from him. Saint Basil having appeared to her in a dream while still living, the girl recognized him while on a journey to Cilicia. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, she immediately requested baptism at which point a miraculous spring burst forth from dry land, and it was in these waters that the Holy Bishop baptized Saint Anthusa. Upon coming out of the font-not-made-with-hands, two angels appeared and clothed her with the white robe of the neophyte. After explaining to her mother that she had become a Christian, she was confirmed in her virginity by Saint Athanasius, and blessed to flee to the desert where she spent twenty years in extreme asceticism amongst the wild beasts who gamboled at her pure feet. While Saint Athansisus was put to death during Valerian’s persecution, Saint Anthusa put to death her passions in constant striving against the flesh and the Devil. The Evil One often appeared to her in the guise of a hermit monk asking her to come and pray with Him. But the purity of her nous was such that she could see through his schemes, and she routinely put him to flight with the Name above all Names. As a reward for her contest and her voluntary martyrdom in the desert, an angel appeared to her one day at prayer explaining that she was to receive the martyr’s crown. With that assurance, the athlete of Christ laid down in peace and gave her soul into God’s hands. Her incorrupt body was found in her cave four years later by Christians who were astonished to see that her flesh was still warm as if she were just asleep.
Martyr Bassa
Caught up in the fervor of persecution associated with Emperor Maximian’s birthday, Saint Bassa and her three sons were ordered to offer sacrifice and pour out libations to the Greek gods. Her husband, a pagan priest and thrall of the idols, turned them in when they refused to do so. Like the mother of the Maccabean martyrs, Saint Bassa encouraged her children to defeat the demons that had overtaken their father by patient endurance and by offering themselves completely to Christ who was waiting to receive them. By obeying their Mother they conquered the foe and received the martyr’s crown. Their mother joining them not too long after, first having dashed the idol of Zeus into a thousand pieces by her prayer.
Hymnography
Possessing an unhesitating mind, thou didst set out to wrestle with the wily adversary, and thou didst destroy him in the deep of thy blood.
(Ode Four, First Troparion of the Martyr; Orthros Canon)
With longing we call Bassa blessed, that dove that was guileless indeed, that turtle-dove that loved God, that swallow which escaped the winter and nets of demons, soared up with her godly younglings, and nested in the Heavens, in the spiritual dominion of God.
(Ode Nine, Fourth Troparion of the Martyr; Orthros Canon)
Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea
When the Emperor Theodosius ordered the destruction of pagan temples throughout the empire, Saint Marcellus set about the work with divine zeal, pulling down shrines and building churches on their ruins to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. One temple, however, the Temple of Jupiter resisted all such efforts because the demon who dwelt there and accepted the worship of the Romans refused to be driven out. Filled with the spirit and power of the Prophet Elijah, the holy Bishop had three column of the colonnade uncovered, piled wood around the bases of them, had the wood covered with water, and then called on the lord to reveal Himself by fire. Like with the prophet of old, fire descended from heaven and set the bushels alight. Not long after the whole of the temple collapsed under the weight of Divine Judgment. Sometime later, Saint Marcellus, the scourge of demons, was set upon and martyred as he was overseeing the destruction of yet another pagan temple dedicated to idol worship.
Martyr Laurence the Archdeacon of Rome
When Pope Saint Sixtus was denounced and arrested under the policies of the Emperor Valerian, Saint Laurence, his deacon, wanted to join him immediately in his sufferings. But the holy Bishop put him off to administer the affairs of the Church, foretelling that he would face even greater challenges. Longing to suffer, with His Father and Christ, Laurence set about his work with haste, faithfully distributing the Church’s goods to the poor and ensuring the election of the next Pope despite the persecution the Church faced. Having completed his task, he returned to the cortege before Pope Sixtus’ martyrdom had been accomplished and took his place at his side as as the Holy Table. Having heard him speak of the treasures of the Church, the Saint was made to appear before the Emperor and ordered to reveal the location of the riches. The Holy Deacon asked for three carts, took them into the city, loaded them with the poor and the sick and the lame, and brought them back to Valerian, presenting them as the true riches of the Church. Infuriated by this display of heavenly virtue, the tyrant demanded that Laurence sacrifice to idols or suffer torture and death. The Martyr replied by saying he would never worship the impotent demons that inhabited the idols in lieu of the Creator of all. As a result, he was cast into prison and tortured until he could be interrogated twice more. Each time he returned to the prison, God granted him the grace to work countless miracles for the imprisoned faithful, encouraging them to hold fast to the Faith. Finally, being placed on a grid iron, after some time he quipped that he was done on one side and needed to be turned over, so that he could properly offer himself as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Though the flames were to him as moist as dew, he gave up his soul to the Lord as a victorious athlete and soldier of Christ.
Hymnography
Having with thee the trophy of the Cross, O wondrous Laurence, thou didst advance mightily against thine adversaries; and when thou overcamest, thou wast shown to be a crown-bearer.
(Ode Three, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Walled about with the law of the life that is in Christ, O Martyr Laurence, thou didst not incline thy mind unto the legislators of death and corruption, as thou didst sing: O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
(Ode Seven, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Martyr Eusignius of Antioch
A veteran soldier who had served in the imperial army for over 50 years, Saint Eusignius was denounced to the Apostate Emperor, Julian, for being a Christian. His years of long service ensuring him a public trial, the Martyr, in imitation of the Prophet King David in the Psalms (Psalm 95 LXX) and the Holy Apostle Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, revealed the Greek gods and idols to be nothing more than demons, defeating them by his utter disdain. When many soldiers who witnessed this spectacle indicated their willingness to be converted in response to the Martyr’s kingly bearing in suffering, Julian had Saint Eusignius beheaded immediately.
Hymnography
O Eusignius, thou didst prove an invincible man of war; being hedged about with the weapon of the Cross, thou wentest forth to contend against the merciless enemy; dashing him upon the ground, thou didst triumph most splendidly. Now thou hast received the bright crown of thy vic’try from the only Lord and Setter of the contest, He that is King everlastingly.
(Lord, I have cried, Second Troparion of the Saint; Vespers)
Since thou hadst achieved humility through godly ways, O prizewinner, thou overthrewest the proud spirit of him that fell through wickedness.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
When thou foughtest in war, thou wast seen to be an invincible soldier; and when thou underwentest martyrdom, thou didst utterly destroy incorporeal adversaries.
(Ode Four, Fourth Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
With thy noble ways, thou didst establish in thy heart the understanding of the truth,, and wast not ignorant of the adversary’s devices; wherefore, when thou rannest to the conflict, thou didst destroy his battalions with the Cross as thine ally.
(Ode Six, First Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
When the demons’ servants learned that thou wast a servant of the Holy Trinity, they subjected thee to torments, prisons, and an unjust death, O all-blessed Martyr Eusignius; but they were conquered by thine invincible resistance.
(Ode Six, Second Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
The torrents of thy blood have dried up the miry torrents of iniquity, and the rivers of godlessness, and the wicked floods of the deceiver, O Martyr; but for the faithful they are an inextinguishable sea of healings.
(Ode Six, Third Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
By the power of Christ thou hast slain the powerless enemy, who is puffed up and vaunteth himself now truly for nought; and thou hast bowed thy neck to the stroke of the sword, O Martyr, and hast sanctified the whole earth with the flow of thy blood.
(Ode Nine, First Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
O Jesus, Son of Glory, Who hast today made bright the memorial of Thy prizewinner, by his intercessions enlighten my soul, darkened with the serpent’s deceit, I pray Thee, that I may glorify Thee as true God and the Friend of man.
(Ode Nine, Fourth Troparion of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
Translation of the Relics of Stephen the Protomartyr
The Holy Protomartyr Stephen appeared to the Priest Lucian to reveal the location of his relics which had been lost. First, they were translated to the Church of Holy Sion in Jerusalem in the year 415 with many miracles attending the event. Later, they were translated to the Imperial city of Constantinople, once again, accompanied by signs and wonders. One such event was the casting out of some demons that were hiding amongst the waves of the sea in Chalcedon. When the relics passed by, the demons cried out that they were being burned by the fire of the uncreated light which radiated out from the holy relics.
Hymnography
With the light of the Spirit, thou shonest brilliantly, and with the only true wisdom, thou wast exalted, O Saint; wherefore thou didst drive away the darkness of the Jews, and didst hurl down our common foe as an athlete in the fray; hence, thou art the crown of Martyrs. Now intercede with the Lord God that He may show His mercy to our souls.
(Sessional Hymn, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou hast appeared unto the world like a beautiful daybreak, O glorious Stephen, driving off the gloom, chasing away demonic specters, and healing the sufferings of the sick and the sores of spiritual maladies, O inspired of God.
(Ode Five, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Martyr Jerusalem
A disciple of the Holy Virgin Martyr Oraiozela, Saint Jerusalem made Christ Jesus her bridegroom and entered the monastic life. Living with the “beautiful zeal” of her Spiritual Mother (Oraiozela means “beautiful zeal”), the grace of the Lord shined from her face to the spiritual benefit of all who came into contact with her. Unable to bear such power, a demon influenced a group of pagans to abduct her for the purpose of forcing her to sacrifice to the local idols and be married. Imitating yet again Saint Oraiozela, Saint Jerusalem steadfastly refused to deny Christ or her calling despite the cruel tortures which they subjected her. When they saw that, by the grace of God, she was impervious to their machinations, she was beheaded and carried off the martyr’s crown.
The Holy Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne: Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus, and Blandina
Arrested during the persecution of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius for atheism and the fabricated crimes of cannabalism and incest, the Holy Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne were subjected to ongoing and terrible tortures inspired by the demons. They endured them a heavenly impassibility that was utterly incongruous to what they suffered. They bested the demonic attack and overcame the temptation to apostasy by encouraging one another through their superhuman endurance and steadfastness in the face of extreme wickendness.
Martyr Golinduc of Persia
Though she had familial ties to the Zoroastrian religion, the Holy Martyr Golinduc was always repulsed by the worship of fire. Nevertheless, she prayed for a revelation of the True Faith, and, while she was still a pagan, she was vouchsafed a vision over the course of three days of souls in torment in Hades and another of souls rejoicing in Paradise. When she asked what she must do join those in Paradise, an angel told her that she must be baptized into Christ. Willing to stop at nothing to do so, she left her husband and parents, was catechized and then baptized into the Church. Upon returning home, she was turned into the authorities by her husband for repudiating the Mazdean religion and was thrown into prison for 18 years. But she lived those years as if it were a single day, focusing only on her love for Christ. She was granted the grace of learning first the Psalter and then the rest of Holy Scriptures by heart from other faithful Christians who she met in the prison. At the end of that time, she was delivered up to the torturers who, inspired by demons, inflicted the most heinous torturers on the Martyr to no avail. For, each night, the Lord healed her wounds. Seeing they could make no impact on her resolve they cast her into a pit that was inhabited by a dragon that was feared by all. In short order, however, Saint Golinduc had tamed the beast such that is slept each night with its head resting in her lap. After four months, they removed her from the pit and had her installed in a house of ill-repute, but she was rendered invisible to any who entered in the hopes of defiling her. Having proven utterly victorious, she was finally released from prison and exiled. Thankful for her freedom, she nevertheless offered up a prayer of lament for not having been counted worthy of the crown of martyrdom. In response, the Lord sent an angel to her who gently wounded her neck with a sword causing blood to issue forth. The angel then told her that the Lord considered that wound in addition to he sufferings to have been her martyrdom. From thenceforth she became known as the Living Martyr, and she was revered wherever she went. One day, when she nearly received communion from some Monophysite disciples of Sergius of Antioch, an angel granted her a vision of two chalices, one that held the bitter darkness of Hades from her first vision, and a second that held the warm glow of paradise. Through this and other such visions, she became a sign and firm support for the true faith to those around her.
Hymnography
Through divine instruction, thou by faith camest to know Christ our God, Who abode with those on the earth; and enlightened in the eyes of thy mind, stately Golinduc, thou didst set forth straightway, bold and unafraid, to join in battle with unseen enemies, whose brazen insolence thou didst utterly destroy; wherefore, the Lord, He that is supremely good, crowned thee with vict’ry’s crowns.
(Lord, I have cried, Second Troparion of the Martyr; Vespers)
Thou didst keep thy mind unhurt and whole while thou wast suffering wounds in confinement of many years; and, O Martyr, having been cast down into the lowest pit to pine and languish therein for many days, thou wast sustained with imperishable food; and though there dwelt with thee a pernicious dragon, thou wast never touched by its harm, O glorious prizewinner of the Lord.
(Lord, I have cried, Third Troparion of the Martyr; Vespers)
They who are guided by thee unto the Lord, O all-lauded Golinduc, have not their feet caught in the enemy’s meshes, but they trip up his ways by the Divine Spirit.
(Ode Four, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Showing diligence to be released from the confusion of passions and from treacherous delusion, O Martyr, thou didst suffer bonds with joy, binding with them all the error of the destroyer.
(Ode Four, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Christ the Lord gave thee strength to endure torments and wicked tortures, through which thou hast undone all the enemy’s devices, O wonder-worthy maiden.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
With joy thou abodest in a dark and very deep pit, O venerable Golinduc, like the wondrous Daniel, being with a dragon which reverenced thee, recognizing in thee a Martyr of the sufferings of Christ.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Longing for the almighty gave thee wings, O admirable Martyr, and thou flewest above all the snares of the adversary as a dove of Christ, and wast united unto God.
(Ode Eight, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)