Holy Martyr Patroclus (III)

The holy Martyr Patroclus lived in the time of the Emperor Aurelian (270–275). It is known that he came from the city of Tricassium (today Troyes, in France). The Lord rewarded him with the gift of wonderworking. The Emperor Aurelian summoned the saint to him and demanded that he worship the idols, promising him great honour and rewards in return. The saint, who desired heavenly glory, said to the emperor: “I am a Christian and will not offer sacrifice to idols, nor canst thou, a pauper, offer me anything.” “How darest thou call the emperor, the ruler of the land, a pauper?” Aurelian raged. The blessed one answered: “Thou art the owner of great earthly treasure, but thou hast no heavenly treasure, for thou believest not in Christ and wilt not inherit the blessedness of paradise in the life eternal; that is why thou art a pauper.” For his disobedience and boldness the autocrat sentenced the martyr to be beheaded. The soldiers led him out to the bank of the river Sequana (today the Seine), but suddenly their eyes grew dark. Meanwhile Patroclus crossed over the water and began to pray on the other bank of the river. Amazed at the saint’s disappearance, some of the soldiers glorified God, while others attributed the miracle to sorcery. A pagan woman told the soldiers that Patroclus was on the other bank. The godless crossed the river and put the Lord’s chosen one to death (+c. 275). His body was committed to the earth with honour at night by the hierarch Eusebius and the deacon Liberius.