Hieromartyr Mocius (III–IV)

The Hieromartyr Mocius (+295) lived in Macedonia, in the city of Amphipolis. In the time of the Emperor Diocletian the saint urged the idol-worshippers gathered for the feast of the pagan god Dionysus to abandon their lawlessness and depravity, to repent, to turn to the teaching of Christ, and to receive the Mystery of holy baptism. Saint Mocius was seized and brought to trial before the governor Laodicius. The saint publicly confessed his faith and said: “To die for Christ is the greatest honour for me.” Saint Mocius was cruelly tortured. He bore everything calmly, all the while denouncing the idol-worshippers for their lawlessness. Brought to the altar of Dionysus, Saint Mocius shattered the idol in the name of Jesus Christ. After this the saint was thrown into a red-hot furnace. The Lord kept the holy priest unharmed, while the flames that burst out of the furnace burned the governor. The new governor tortured the saint again, and by God’s will the priest bore this torment too calmly. Then the tormentors threw the saint to wild beasts to be torn apart, but the lions lay down at his feet. The people who saw this miracle demanded the martyr’s release. By the governor’s order Mocius was taken first to Perinthus, and from there to Byzantium, where he was put to death. Before his death he gave thanks to the Lord for giving him the strength to endure the trial to the end. “Lord, receive my soul in peace” were the saint’s last words. Saint Mocius died in 295. Later Constantine the Great translated the holy relics of Mocius to a church dedicated to him.