Having been imprisoned and interrogated with two fellow athletes of Christ, Saint Basiliscus was distraught when he was sent back to prison while his fellows received the martyr’s crown. The Lord Himself appeared in his cell to comfort the saint, telling him that his Name had surely been written in the Book of Life and that he too would would get the chance to “[fill] up what [was] lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body…the Church” (Colossians 1:24). That same night, the Lord freed him from his prison so that he could say goodbye to his family and encourage them in the Faith. Having accomplished his purpose, he showed a firm resolve and faithfulness to Christ by willfully returning to the prison where, the next morning, he was ordered to be transferred to Comana for judgment. Like a new Ignatius of Antioch, he made the trip joyfully despite having iron sandals nailed to his feet before they departed. Stopping along the way for food, they secured the holy Martyr by tying him to a dead tree, an image of the Cross of our Lord. When, by the prayers of the Saint, an earthquake occurred, his captors rushed to see if Basiliscus had escaped. They found him bound as he had been, but the tree was seen to be verdant and lush, a stream of water gushing out from its roots. All who saw the miracle were filled with fear, and a great many were converted on the spot, the Martyr ministering to them by healing the sick and casting out demons. Determined to achieve his purpose, Saint Basiliscus insisted that the journey be continued. Arriving finally at the place of judgment, the Martyr reduced the idols of the pagan temple to ash, calling down fire upon them by offering a sacrifice of praise to the True God who made the Heavens and the Earth. Realizing his utter impotence before Lord who is wondrous in His saints, the enraged governor finally ordered that the Saint be beheaded.
Hymnography
When thy feet had been shod with shoes set with nails piercing through thy flesh, thou didst walk with joy on the path of martyrdom; and with them, thou troddest underfoot the head of the evil foe, wholly crushing it to dust; and since thou hadst been well equipped, thou didst walk the way unto Heaven, O famous Basiliscus, to appear before the Master as a brave victor most glorious.
(Second Troparion of the Saint; Lord, I have cried)
Thou didst strangle Satan with the divine cords of thy words, O prizewinner; wherefore, thou wast adorned with diadems of victory, O Martyr Basiliscus.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Confidently walking the the path of martyrdom, thou bravest the enemy’s sharp goads, O glorious Basiliscus.
(Ode Five, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
When thy feet were pierced with nails, O godly-minded one, they utterly crushed the head of the craft enemy.
(Ode Five, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
The Master awardeth honors to thee, who foughtest hard, and didst destroy the enemy’s devices and didst fervently sing: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, unto the ages.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou becamest a victor over the tyrants and the spirits of wickedness, O glorious Basiliscus, as thou didst unceasingly sing unto Him that gave thee strength: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
As Elijah the Tishbite brought down fire from heaven in time past, so thou by thy prayer broughtest down the flame whereby the idol’s temple was burnt up, and the images of the demons were consumed, and God the Creator is magnified, O blessed Basiliscus.
(Ode Nine, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou wast released from the body at the stroke of the sword, and the venerable powers received thy divine spirit, which by grace overcame the evil spirits of wickedness; and now thou dwellest in the realms on high wearing a crown, O wise and all-blessed Basiliscus.
(Ode Nine, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Category: Cross
Indicates saints who utilized the cross in their defeat of the demons.
Martyr Thalleleus
A holy unmercenary who healed the sick of all backgrounds free of charge, Saint Thalleleus asked only that all would turn their hearts unto Christ who is the true Great Physician. By his ministry he truly showed that, when the Lord so wills, the order of nature is overcome. By his prayers the sick were healed. In his sufferings at the hands of Governor Theodore, the eyes of his torturers were blinded, and the strength of the tyrant failed. Like the Three Holy Children, fire was for him a cooling dew. When he was abandoned at sea, the waters placidly carried him back to shore. Beasts meant to devour him gamboled at his feet. Having been made victorious over the visible creation, he, as a co-worker with God, also put the invisible creation back into order, casting out demons by the sign of the cross and through the proclamation of the Name of Christ, the One who heals all ills.
Hymnography
Guarded by piety and strengthened by the grace of the All-compassionate God, O Thalleleus, thou didst set out for struggles with a courageous mind, destroying the strongholds of the enemy and carrying off the victory.
(Ode One, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
We know thee to be a most holy temple and dwelling of the Three-Sun Glory, O blessed Thalleleus, who didst dash to pieces the temples and idols of the evil demons.
(Ode Four, Third Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Thou didst turn to flight the hordes of demons, O wise Thalleleus, having the holy Angels as fellow workers at the time of thy struggles, by whom thou wast shown to be a crown-bearer and didst attain to glory.
(Ode Six, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
By the working of miracles, thou deliverest the faithful from diverse sicknesses, freeing them from temptations and driving away the battalions of demons by thine entreaties, O adornment of Martyrs.
(Ode Seven, Third Troparion; Orthos Canon)
Piously proclaiming one nature and one will and counsel and might of the Divine Trinity, O glorious Thalleleus, thou didst wisely destroy the blasphemy of many gods; and having patiently endured many pains, thou wast greatly glorified.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
By the stroke of the sword, thou wast offered up as an unblemished and holy victim unto the sacrificed Lamb, and slowest the serpent who once in Paradise destroyed Adam and Eve with the death of disobedience.
(Ode Eight, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Xenia the Wonderworker
A beautiful woman made all the more radiant by her acquisition of the Christian virtues, the regional prefect, Dometian, hired a magician to cast a love spell on Saint Xenia who he wanted for his wife. The saint easily defeated the dark arts by the power of the cross, and declared the Lord to be her heavenly spouse. Enraged by her faithfulness to Christ, the prefect subjected her to various forms of torture which proved just as powerless as the spell enwrapped as she was in prayer. When he, nonetheless, convinced himself that she was ready to renounce her faith for him, he took her to a pagan temple to offer sacrifice, but the saint immediately cast down the idols by her prayer. Incensed by her continued rejection, Dometian eventually had her beheaded and her heart delivered to him on a platter as if he were a new Herod.
Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Consumed by a divine eros for Christ, St. Elizabeth fixed her gaze on the Divine Beauty, turning neither to the right nor the left. For her single-minded dedication she was granted the gift of working miracles which she used to heal the sick, cast out demons, and predict future events. Like a female St. George, she too killed a dragon which held sway over the Hebdomon District of Constantinople armed only with the precious cross. On the day after the feast of the Trophy-bearer, St. Elizabeth fell asleep. Her body remained incorrupt and continued to work wonders for the faithful down through the centuries.
Hymnography
Since thou didst pereserve in ascetical diligence, thou hast received grace to drive out the maladies of souls and bodies, O Modest Mother blest of God, in the Holy Spirit, chasing spirits off and protecting all found in adversities; now in thine intercessions, ask that strength and great mercy be granted unto all.
(First Troparion of the Saint; Lord, I have cried)
Having borne the pains of self-denial, thou didst gain the grace of deep dispassion and of healing to cure every malady, and to drive off all the working of demons’ spite, O God-inspired, wonder worthy Elizabeth. Righteous Mother, interceded with Christ God in our behalf, that His great mercy may be granted unto us.
(Sessional Hymn of the Saint; Orthros Canon)
The terrible serpent, even the dragon, hast thou slain with thy prayer; for having first broken all the devices of the evil one by divine power, thou gavest him as food to the beasts and to every fowl of the air, O Elizabeth, while glorifying the Master of all.
(Ode Four, First Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Resplendent was thy way of life, made beautiful with virtues; and thy falling-asleep hath sacredly flashed with the lightning or miracles, chasing away demons and dissipating the winter of passions by divine grace.
(Ode Six, Second Troparion; Orthros Canon)
Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer
In the midst of his trials under Diocletian, St. George feigned an intention to offer sacrifice in order to end his torment. Arriving at the Temple of Apollo in Nicomedia, the Great Martyr stood in front of the idol and made the sign of the cross. Unable to bear the power of the invincible weapon as wielded by the saint, multiple demons were immediately cast out of the idol and confessed Christ as true God. The lifeless statues then fell to the ground and shattered. While not explicitly spoken about in terms of the demonic, his defeat of the dragon which has become the central theme of his iconographic representation in the Church, also proclaims his victory over the enemy of mankind since the Devil is called the dragon in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 12).
Hymnography
With the breastplate of ardent faith, with the shield of resplendent grace, with the mighty spear of the Cross girt all about, thou didst prove unto thine enemies to be all-invincible; as a God-like prince in war, thou didst vanquish the demons’ troops, and dost dance for joy with the Angels; and caring for the faithful thou dost hallow and preserve them, when they invoke thee, O Martyr George.
(Fourth Troparion; Lord, I have cried; Great Vespers)
Thou hast lived worthily of thy name, O soldier George; for taking the Cross of Christ upon thy shoulders, thou hast cultivated the earth that had become barren because of diabolic deception; and uprooting the thorny religion of the idols, thou hast planted the vine of the Orthodox Faith. Wherefore thou gushes forth healings for the faithful throughout the world, and hast proved to be the Trinity’s righteous husbandman. Intercede, we pray, for the peace of the world and the salvation of our souls.
(Doxastikon of the Martyr; Lord, I have cried; Great Vespers)
Thou hast set a crown of glory on thy head, O crown-bearer George; for, as Paul crieth out, thou, seeing the invisible enemy, didst persevere, and becamest a victor over his deception. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, to Christ, Who is risen!
(Sixth Troparion of the Entreaty; Great Vespers)
Solomon said: Let the eyes of mortals gaze straight; for, he foretold, whoso locket straight shall find mercy from Christ God. Lending a ready ear unto this, O much-enduring George, thou didst follow the teachings of the Master; and when thou wast given up to the lawless, thou didst endure manfully, abhorring the rituals of delusion, because they are profane. For the love of Him that made thee, thy body was wholly severed limb by limb, and yet more was Belial wholly put to shame and wounded, when he saw thee wearing thy crown and flourishing again. Wherefore, as thou abides in the courts of thy Lord, O prizewinner, together with the powers on high, intercede with Christ that our souls be saved.
(Doxastikon of the Martyr for the Entreaty; Great Vespers)
We hymn thy contests, O all-blessed George, whereby thou hast overthrown the worship of the idols and hast destroyed all the deceit of the demons, O all-renowned Martyr.
(Ode Four, First Troparion; Second Orthros Canon)
Calm the tumult of temptations and dangers, O wonderworthy George, and as a soldier of Christ, drive every affront of the demons away from them that sing thy praises.
(Ode Four, Second Troparion; Second Orthros Canon)
As sweet-smelling flowers from another Paradise, let us gather hymns from the divinely-inspired Book of Psalms, and come, let us plait bright garland of songs woven for the Martyr; for he triumphed, and destroyed the power of Satan.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion, First Orthros Canon)
By thine intercessions, O crown-bearer George, check the flood of adversities, sufferings, and dangers, of tumultuous calamities, of maladies that befall us, for the devices of demons, and of the violence of adversaries.
(Ode Eight, First Troparion, Second Orthros Canon)
O Blessed George, unceasingly importune the Lord for us who praise thee as a Martyr of Christ, as a vanquisher of tyrants, as an exorcist of wicked spirits, as an unsleeping guardian, as a protector never put to shame.
(Ode Nine, First Troparion, Second Orthros Canon)