Holy Martyr Concordius (+c. 175)

The holy Martyr Concordius (II), son of the presbyter Gordian, was brought up in the faith and piety of Christ. Pius, Bishop of Rome, ordained him subdeacon. Later, with his father’s permission, he settled near Rome with his kinsman Eutyches and spent his days in prayer and good works. Word of his pious life reached Torquatus, governor of the province of Tuscia. He summoned the saint and promised him the priesthood of the pagans’ false gods in return for denying Christ. In reply Concordius urged Torquatus himself to turn to the faith of the true God, Christ, for which he was cruelly beaten and thrown into prison. The holy Bishop Anthimus, a friend of Torquatus, asked the governor to send the prisoner to him. The holy confessor lived for a good while with the bishop and was ordained priest by him. When Torquatus summoned the saint again and asked what he thought about his life, he answered that Christ was his life. The unbroken Concordius was thrown into prison. Three days later the governor sent armed soldiers to him with the message: if thou dost not offer sacrifice to the idols, thou shalt be put to death. The martyr again glorified the Lord, spat on the statue of Zeus the executioners had brought, and willingly bowed his neck to the sword.