Monastic Martyr Telemakhos

Saint Telemakhos (Telémakhos) was a monk who lived in the V century during the reign of Emperor Honorius. He traveled from Asia to Rome desiring to save the city. He was opposed to the gladiatorial contests which took place in the amphitheaters, and so he rushed to the Colosseum and shouted for the gladiators to stop, in the name of Christ. Then the crowd began to laugh and heckle him. One of the gladiators struck Telemakhos in the stomach with his sword and he fell down. He got up again and shouted for the two gladiators to stop. One of them stabbed him in the stomach with his sword, and after uttering the same words for the last time, Telemakhos died in the sand of the amphitheater, bathed in blood. The crowd became silent and left the Colosseum.

Because of this Saint's death on January 1, 404 the last gladiatorial contest in the history of the Roman Empire took place. Three days later, these contests were abolished by imperial decree.