2019-10-01

Science of the Saints, 2-X (19 Sep.), Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius, And Dorymedon


The Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius, and Dorymedon suffered for Christ during the reign of the Roman emperor Probus (276-282). 

One time in the city of Antioch a pagan feast-day was being celebrated. The sacrificial offerings were brought, the wine was poured, and the vile acts were done. The Christians Trophimus and Sabbatius arrived in the city, and with grief looking upon this loud and indecent spectacle, they besought the Lord to guide the errant onto the way of salvation. They were arrested and taken to the governor. 

At the interrogation, the saints firmly confessed their faith, and to the demand that they renounce their faith, they answered with a resolute refusal. During the time of fierce tortures Saint Sabbatius died, and Saint Trophimus was sent off, for even more terrible tortures, unto the city of Synnada to the governor Frigius Dionysius, infamous as a torturer and executioner. 

Shod in iron sandals with sharp nails, Saint Trophimus for three days went on foot, driven on by a cavalry guard. The skilled torturer used all manners of torture to break the will of the brave Christian but Saint Trophimus merely repeated the words of Scripture: "many an affliction hath the righteous one, but from them all wilt the Lord deliver him." (Ps. 33:20) 

They threw the sufferer into prison, where he was visited by a secret Christian - the senator Dorymedon. He attended to Saint Trophimus, washing and binding his wounds. When this came to the attention of the torturers, they began to demand Saint Dorymedon renounce Christianity, and then they threw him together with Saint Trophimus for devouring by wild beasts. But the martyrs remained untouched. Then they beheaded them with the sword.

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