Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Thallus (+300)

The holy Martyrs Trophimus and Thallus (+300) were presbyters and brothers. They served in Laodicea. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian (284–305) and Maximian (283–305) the brothers were seized and brought before the governor Asclepiodotus. He ordered the saints to be stoned, but the stones that were thrown flew back at those who threw them. After repeated interrogation the brothers were sentenced to crucifixion. On their way to death they glorified and thanked the Lord for His good pleasure, and even nailed to the cross the saints went on preaching. Their mother encouraged the crucified brothers. A Jewish woman bowed down before the saints and cried out: “Blessed are the mothers who bore such sons.” After the saints’ death the prison guard saw the souls of the brothers going up to heaven accompanied by three angels. The people did not leave the bodies of the holy martyrs all night. In the morning the wife of Asclepiodotus came to the place of execution with ointments and costly winding-cloths. She told the people how she had seen in her sleep the saints and the angels sent to punish Asclepiodotus.

The martyrs’ mother and two Christians, Zosimus and Artemas, buried the holy brothers in their native city of Stratonicea. Asclepiodotus soon fell ill and died in terrible pain.