Holy Martyr Dasius (284–305)

The holy Martyr Dasius was born in the Danubian city of Durostorum. At that time, at the end of the second and the beginning of the third century, the Christian faith was widely spread throughout the empire. Saint Dasius sympathised with the Christians, but the pagan surroundings he lived in did not allow him to be baptised and openly confess the true God.

Once the inhabitants of the city were preparing for the feast of the pagan deity Saturn. As was the custom, thirty days before the feast the pagans would choose a handsome youth, dress him in rich clothing and pay him royal honours, and on the day of the festival offer him in sacrifice to the idol. This time his fellow citizens’ choice fell on Saint Dasius, the most outstanding of the inhabitants of Durostorum. When the saint learned of this, he said: “If death is written for me, it is better to die for Christ, as a Christian.” He fearlessly confessed the Saviour, boldly exposed the lawlessness of the pagans, and converted many of them to the true faith. For this, by order of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284–305), after cruel tortures he was beheaded.