Holy Martyr Barbarus the Soldier, Bacchus, Callimachus and Dionysius (+362)

The holy Martyrs Barbarus the Soldier, Bacchus, Callimachus and Dionysius (+362) lived in the fourth century and served in the army of the Emperor Julian the Apostate. Saint Barbarus was a secret Christian. During the war with the Franks he defeated a giant enemy warrior in single combat and won universal acclaim. After the victory over the Franks the commander Bacchus decided to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, and gave Barbarus, as the victor, the honour of offering the first sacrifice. Saint Barbarus publicly declared his Christianity and refused to offer sacrifice. For this, by order of Julian the Apostate, he was cruelly tortured. The saint was hung on a tree and his body was lacerated so that his entrails fell out. The holy martyr asked God for help. Then an angel of the Lord appeared and healed the saint’s wounds. Seeing this miracle, Bacchus and two soldiers, Callimachus and Dionysius, renounced the pagan gods and believed in Christ, for which they were beheaded. Saint Barbarus was tortured on a cart wheel and a fire was lit under him, but the Lord kept the martyr unharmed; the flames spread to the executioners and burned them. After this the saint was tortured for seven more days, but with the help of divine power he remained unharmed. Many pagans who saw these miracles were converted to the law of Christ. Saint Barbarus ended his wonderful struggle in 362. He was run through with the sword. The saint’s body was committed to the earth by Philikos, a bishop of the Peloponnese.