Holy Martyr Hesperus, His Wife Zoe and Their Sons Cyriacus and Theodulus (II)

The holy Martyr Hesperus, his wife Zoe and their sons Cyriacus and Theodulus were slaves of the rich pagan Catullus (II). They suffered during the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Hadrian (117–138). On the occasion of the birth of Catullus’s son a festival was held in the house in honour of the goddess Fortuna. Food from the festive table was shared out to the slaves, including meat offered to idols and wine. The saints did not touch the food. Zoe poured the wine on the ground and threw the meat to the dogs. Then Catullus ordered Saint Zoe’s sons to be tortured.

Saints Cyriacus and Theodulus were tied to a tree and cruelly tortured before their parents’ eyes. Saints Hesperus and Zoe encouraged their children and urged them to endure the trial to the end. Then the parents themselves were tortured, and at last all four were thrown into a red-hot furnace, where with prayer they gave up their souls to the Lord. The singing of angels accompanied the martyrs’ souls to the Kingdom, while their bodies were preserved unharmed.