Lives of the Saints

Martyr Platon of Ancyra

Martyr Platon of Ancyra

The Holy Martyr Platon, brother of the holy Martyr Antiochus the Physician (July 16), was born at the city of Ancyra in Galatia. While still a youth he left home and went through the cities, preaching the Word of God to pagans, amazing his audience with the persuasiveness and beauty of his speech,…

Martyr Romanus the Deacon of Caesarea

Martyr Romanus the Deacon of Caesarea

Information concerning Saint Romanus is found in Books 3 and 12 of the Church History of Eusebius. Saint Romanus was born in Palestine, and served as a deacon in Caesarea. At the time of the persecution against Christians, he was living in Antioch. Through his preaching, he encouraged the faithful…

Martyr Barulas the Youth of Caesarea

Martyr Barulas the Youth of Caesarea

Saint Barulas was a child in the crowd of people who witnessed the torture of Saint Romanus. Christ’s holy martyr told the Eparch Asclypiades that the young child was wiser than he was, because he knew the true God, while the Eparch did not. Asclypiades asked the boy what gods he worshiped,…

New Martyr Anastasius of Epirus

New Martyr Anastasius of Epirus

Saint Anastasius and his sister were mid-18th century peasants living in Epirus during Ottoman times. When a band of Turks entered their village, its leader, Musa, was struck by the beauty of Anastasius' sister and tried to seize her, but Anastasius fought off the Turks, enabling his sister to…

Martyrs Zacchaeus the Deacon, and Alphaeus, of Caesarea in Palestine

The Holy Martyrs Zacchaeus, Deacon of Gadara, and Alphaeus, Reader of Caesarea, suffered under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Among those arrested during the most fierce persecution against Christians was Saint Zacchaeus, a deacon of the Gadara church, who openly confessed his faith and did not…