Holy Hieromartyr Erasmus (+303)

The holy Hieromartyr Erasmus (+303) served the Lord zealously from his youth. He was consecrated Bishop of Formia (Italy). During the persecution of Christians by Diocletian and Maximian, Erasmus decided to escape torture, but an angel stopped him and ordered him to return to the city. When some soldiers he met asked about the saint’s faith, he declared himself a Christian. Saint Erasmus was brought before Diocletian in Antioch. The saint fearlessly confessed Christ and denounced the emperor for his lawlessness. Saint Erasmus was cruelly tortured, but they could not break him. When the confessor of Christ was locked in prison, an angel miraculously set him free and commanded him: “Follow me; I will take thee to Italy, where many people are waiting for thy word.” In Lycia Saint Erasmus preached the faith of Christ to the people and raised a nobleman’s son from the dead. After this miracle ten thousand people were baptised. Maximian Herculius, ruler of the West of the Roman Empire, ordered the saint to be seized and brought to trial. Saint Erasmus again boldly confessed Christ. The saint was beaten and taken by force to a pagan temple, but as soon as he set foot in the temple the idols fell down and were shattered, and fire burst out of the altar and burned many pagans. Set free, Erasmus baptised a great many people and went to the city of Sirmium, where he was seized and tortured again. The saint was thrown into a red-hot furnace, but remained alive and unharmed. This miracle so shook the people that the emperor feared a rising and hid in his palace. An angel freed Erasmus from his fetters and brought him back to Formia, to his see. He met his end in 303. The Christians buried the holy hieromartyr’s remains with honour.