Martyr Porphyrius the Actor
The Holy Martyr Porphyrios suffered during the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363). Porphyrios was an actor and on the Emperor’s birthday he was performing in a play at the theater, where he was supposed to mock the Mystery of Holy Baptism.
During the play Porphyrios immersed himself in the water and said: “The servant of God, Porphyrios, is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
By the grace of God, which he received after speaking these words, he emerged from the water and confessed himself a Christian before the entire audience. Julian ordered him to be tortured, and after being subjected to torture, he was beheaded. This took place in the city of Ephesus in the year 361.
Saint Porphyrios the actor (September 15) should not be confused with Saint Porphyrios the actor who lived during the reign of Aurelian (270-275), and is commemorated on November 4.