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Commemorated on July 16
The PriestMartyr
Athenogoras and his Ten Disciples suffered for Christ during the time of
persecution against Christians in the city of Sebasteia. The governor
Philomarkhos made a large festival in honour of the pagan gods and summoned the
Sebasteia citizenry to offer sacrifice to the idols. But the inhabitants of
Sebasteia, Christian in the majority, refused to participate in the impious
celebration with its offering of sacrifice to idols. Soldiers were ordered to
kill people, and many Christians then accepted a martyr's crown.
It came to the
governor's attention, that Christianity was being widely spread about by the
graced preaching of Bishop Athenogoras. Orders were issued to seek out the
elder and arrest him. Saint Athenogoras and ten of his disciples lived not far
from the city in a small monastery. But not finding the bishop there, the
soldiers arrested his disciples. The governor gave orders to slap them into
chains and throw them in prison.
Saint Athenogoras
came then to Sebasteia and began reproaching the judge that those thrown into
prison were guiltless. He was arrested. In prison, Saint Athenogoras encouraged
his spiritual children for their impending deed. Led forth to trial, all the holy
martyrs confessed themselves Christians and refused to offer sacrifice to
idols. After undergoing fierce tortures, the disciples of the holy bishop were
beheaded. And after the execution of the disciples, the executioners were
ordered to put the elder to the test of torture. Strengthened by the Lord,
Saint Athenogoras underwent the tortures with dignity. His only request was –
that he be executed in the monastery.
Taken to his own
monastery, the saint in prayer gave thanks to God, and he rejoiced in the
sufferings that he had undergone for Him. Saint Athenogoras besought of the
Lord the forgiveness of sins of all those people, who should remember both him
and his disciples.
The Lord granted the
saint to hear His Voice before death, announcing the promise given to the
penitent thief: "Today with Me thou shalt be in paradise". The
priestmartyr himself bent his neck beneathe the sword.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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