Holy Martyr Meletius Stratelates, Stephen, John, Serapion the Egyptian, Callinicus the Former Sorcerer, Theodore, Faustus and 1218 Other Soldiers with Women and Children (218)

The holy Martyr Meletius Stratelates, Stephen, John, Serapion the Egyptian, Callinicus the former sorcerer, Theodore, Faustus, and 1218 other soldiers with women and children (+218).

In the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Heliogabalus (218–222) the holy Martyr Meletius served as military commander of the region of Galatia. He was a Christian and fervently besought the Lord to put an end to the pagan folly. Terrified by his prayer, the evil spirits came out of the pagan altars, entered into dogs, and frightened the people with their furious barking. Saint Meletius with his soldiers destroyed the dogs and smashed the altars. For this the saint was seized and brought before Maximian, the governor of Galatia. Meletius was ordered to offer sacrifice to the idols, but he refused flatly, for which he was tortured to death. With him the holy Martyrs Stephen and John were put to death.

The other soldiers of the regiment, who declared themselves Christians, were put to the sword with their families. 1218 Christians were tortured to death, according to another account 11,000 (+c. 218). Saints Theodore and Faustus were burned with fire. Of those martyred the names of several women are known, Marcina, Susanna and Palladia, and of children, Cyriacus and Christian. The names of twelve tribunes are also known: Faustus, Festus, Marcellus, Theodore, Meletius, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus, Mercurius and Didymus.

The holy Martyr Serapion was born in Egypt. He was in Galatia at the time of the martyrdom of the saints. Seeing their courage and faithfulness to Christ, he himself believed the teaching of the Gospel, for which he was imprisoned and tortured to death.