Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alphaeus, Zosimas, Mark the Shepherd, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus and Others (IV)

The holy Martyrs Alexander, Alphaeus, Zosimas, Mark the Shepherd, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus and others suffered in various places of Asia Minor in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (284–305). Saint Mark the Shepherd was seized in the neighbourhood of Antioch in Pisidia. The thirty soldiers who had arrested the martyr were converted to the true faith by his preaching, for which they were beheaded at Nicaea, while Saint Mark was handed over for torture.

To make the instruments of torture they summoned three brothers, smiths from the village of Catalactos (Calata): Alexander, Alphaeus and Zosimas. Plainly the work would not go right for them: now their hands grew stiff through some power, now the iron melted and broke; at last a voice sounded from heaven and called the brothers, together with Saint Mark, to endure the torments. And they believed and openly confessed Christ. For this the godless poured molten tin down the throats of Alexander, Alphaeus and Zosimas and tortured them to death, while Mark was beheaded at Claudiopolis. When Mark’s head was brought into the temple of Artemis, all the idols fell down and were shattered. The witnesses of this miracle, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus, virgins and children, believed in Christ, declared their faith aloud and died as martyrs.