Holy Martyrs Zacchaeus, Deacon of Gadara, and Alphaeus, Reader of Caesarea (+303)

The holy Martyrs Zacchaeus, a deacon of Gadara, and Alphaeus, a reader of Caesarea, were kinsmen according to the flesh. They suffered in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (284–305). When the persecution of the Christians began, Saint Zacchaeus was seized together with a great many other Orthodox believers. He openly confessed his faith, for which he was terribly tortured, but they could not make him deny Christ. Under Diocletian the followers of the Saviour were persecuted so cruelly that, for fear of torture, some Christians agreed to offer sacrifice to the idols. Burning with divine zeal, Alphaeus, a reader of the Church of Caesarea, mingled with those who had denied Christ as they went to the pagan altar, and urged them not to defile their souls. Then the Lord’s chosen one was seized and, after tortures, put in the same fetters as Zacchaeus. At night the saints were thrown into prison, where they prayed fervently and strengthened one another before the end that awaited them. In the morning the Lord’s chosen ones were beheaded (+303).