Holy Martyr Hermes (II)

The holy Martyr Hermes (II) met his end in Comana in the time of the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161). Sebastian, an imperial official who had come to Cappadocia, demanded that he worship the idols, promising him glory and honours in return. The aged soldier boldly confessed Christianity, for which he was beaten so that the skin came off his face. The tortured Hermes was thrown into a red-hot furnace, but three days later he came out of the fire unharmed. A poisoned cup could not harm the saint either. The man who saw this confessed Christ and died there and then at the hands of the pagans. Saint Hermes was hung head downwards. Three days later men sent by Sebastian came to him, and when they saw him still alive, astounded by the miracle, they asked him for help.

The enraged Sebastian cut the throat of the confessor of Christ with a knife. The Christians secretly buried the holy martyr’s body.