Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpius (+c. 300)

The holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpius served in Nicomedia in the time of the Emperor Diocletian (284–305) and carried out the emperor’s orders. Once, while they were searching for Christians, they saw a fiery cloud coming down from heaven, out of which a voice rang out: “Why do ye persecute My servants? Let it not be so! It is better for you to become of one mind with them, that ye may obtain the kingdom of heaven.” The soldiers fell down trembling and cried out: “Truly great is the Lord who hath appeared to us; blessed shall we be if we follow Him.” Again a voice was heard from heaven: “Arise, repent, and your sins shall be forgiven you.” The soldiers raised their heads and saw a radiant being in the fiery cloud. Struck with awe, they cried out again to the Lord: “Receive our souls, for evil and unutterable are our sins. There is no other God but Thee, the true and only God.” As soon as they had said this, the cloud rose up to heaven. After this miracle Trophimus and Eucarpius, spiritually transformed, set free all the Christians from prison. The soldiers were seized and cruelly tortured. The martyrs glorified the Lord and besought Him to forgive them their terrible sins. After the torture the saints calmly went up onto the pyre and gave up their souls to the Lord.