Venerable Martyr Carterius, Presbyter of Caesarea in Cappadocia (+304)

The holy Martyr Carterius served as a presbyter in Caesarea of Cappadocia in the time of the Emperor Diocletian. He built a church to the glory of the Lord and gathered a large flock. When the governor of the region was told of his activity, he withdrew from the persecutors; but the Lord appeared to him and said: “Carterius, go and stand before the governor; I will be with you. You will have to endure many sufferings for My name. Many will be strengthened and saved through you.”

Filled with joy, the saint gave thanks to the Lord and gave himself up to the tormentors of his own accord. At first the blessed father was beaten with sticks, and then hung on a tree; the nails of his hands and feet were torn off and his body was lacerated with iron hooks. An angel of the Lord eased Carterius’s sufferings. The courageous confessor of Christ was also tortured for a long time with red-hot iron, and at last thrown into a dungeon. Here the Lord Himself appeared to the saint, healed him, freed him from his fetters and led him out of the prison. Many people who witnessed this miracle believed in the true God, were baptised and were healed of their illnesses.

The godless seized Carterius again, tortured him cruelly, and at last ran him through with a sword.