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| (Feast Day - July 30) |
The Hieromartyr Polychronios, Bishop of Babylon; the Presbyters Parmenios, Helimas, and Chrysotelis; the Deacons Luke and Moukos; the Persian Princes and Martyrs Abdon and Sennes; and the Martyrs Olympios and Maximos* suffered in the 3rd century during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Decius (249–251). Having defeated the Persians and taken control of their land, Decius found many Christians there and began to persecute them. The Bishop of Babylon, Saint Polychronios, along with his presbyters Parmenios, Helimas, and Chrysotelis, and two deacons, Luke and Moukos, were captured and brought before the emperor. He commanded them to offer sacrifices to idols. However, Saint Polychronios boldly replied to Decius: "We offer ourselves as a sacrifice to our Lord Jesus Christ, and we will never bow to your worthless idols made by human hands." For these words, the enraged Decius threw the confessors into prison.
During the second interrogation, Saint Polychronios remained silent. Then Decius remarked to the presbyters: "Your leader has become mute." Saint Parmenios replied, “The holy bishop is not without a voice, but he does not wish to defile his pure lips and cast pearls before swine” (Matt. 7:6). In a rage Decius commanded that Saint Parmenios’ tongue be cut out. In spite of this, Parmenios spoke clearly to Saint Polychronios, saying, “Pray for me, Father, for I behold the Holy Spirit upon you.”
By order of Decius the Bishop Polychronios was struck in the mouth with stones, and he gave up his spirit. They left his body lying in front of the temple of Saturn. Two Persian princes, Abdon and Sennes, who were secret Christians, came at night and buried the body of the Holy Martyr by the city walls.
Soon, Decius went to the city of Gordyene (Corduene) and ordered the three presbyters and two deacons to follow him. In Gordyene, he again forced the martyrs to offer sacrifices to idols, but Saint Parmenios, despite having his tongue cut out, loudly and firmly responded for all with a refusal.
Believing that Saint Parmenios was able speak through some sort of magic power, Decius increased the tortures and ordered that the confessors be burned with fire. Then a Voice was heard from Heaven, “Come to Me, you who are humble of heart.” Decius believed that this was also the work of magic, and he ordered the priests and deacons beheaded with an axe.
The Persian princes Abdon and Sennes took the bodies of the martyrs by night and buried them in their own village near Gordyene. This was reported to Decius. The princes were arrested and brought before the emperor, who commanded that the holy princes be locked up in prison. The Saints rejoiced and glorified God.
On the same day two other Persians, Olympios and Maximos, were brought before Decius and charged with being Christians. The Holy Martyrs were fiercely tortured and beheaded for their bold confession of faith in Christ. For five days their bodies lay unburied, but on the sixth day Christians secretly buried them at night.
Decius returned to Rome with Abdon and Sennes in chains. He told the Saints to offer sacrifice to the gods, promising them freedom and honors. The Holy Martyrs answered, “We offer ourselves in sacrifice to our God Jesus Christ, therefore offer your sacrifice to your own gods.” Decius sentenced them to be eaten by wild beasts. They set two lions upon them, and later on four bears, which would not touch the Holy Martyrs, but instead lay at their feet. Then they ran Abdon and Sennes through with swords. Their bodies lay for three days before an idol to frighten Christians. By night a secret Christian named Cyrenius took the bodies of the martyrs and buried them in his own home. The Holy Martyrs Abdon and Sennes suffered in the year 251. Their relics are preserved in the Church of Saint Mark at Rome.
Notes:
* According to the Venerable Bede in his Martyrology, Polychronios, Bishop of Babylon, was commemorated on February 17th; Parmenios, Helimas, Chrysotelis, Luke and Moukos were commemorated together on April 22nd; and Olympios and Maximos were commemorated on April 15th. Today these Holy Martyrs are only commemorated in the Slavic Calendars together on July 30th and are completely absent from the Greek Calendars. Saint Neophytos the Recluse confuses the Hieromartyr Polychronios of Babylon with the Hieromartyr Polychronios of Cyprus who is commemorated on October 7th.
During the second interrogation, Saint Polychronios remained silent. Then Decius remarked to the presbyters: "Your leader has become mute." Saint Parmenios replied, “The holy bishop is not without a voice, but he does not wish to defile his pure lips and cast pearls before swine” (Matt. 7:6). In a rage Decius commanded that Saint Parmenios’ tongue be cut out. In spite of this, Parmenios spoke clearly to Saint Polychronios, saying, “Pray for me, Father, for I behold the Holy Spirit upon you.”
By order of Decius the Bishop Polychronios was struck in the mouth with stones, and he gave up his spirit. They left his body lying in front of the temple of Saturn. Two Persian princes, Abdon and Sennes, who were secret Christians, came at night and buried the body of the Holy Martyr by the city walls.
Soon, Decius went to the city of Gordyene (Corduene) and ordered the three presbyters and two deacons to follow him. In Gordyene, he again forced the martyrs to offer sacrifices to idols, but Saint Parmenios, despite having his tongue cut out, loudly and firmly responded for all with a refusal.
Believing that Saint Parmenios was able speak through some sort of magic power, Decius increased the tortures and ordered that the confessors be burned with fire. Then a Voice was heard from Heaven, “Come to Me, you who are humble of heart.” Decius believed that this was also the work of magic, and he ordered the priests and deacons beheaded with an axe.
The Persian princes Abdon and Sennes took the bodies of the martyrs by night and buried them in their own village near Gordyene. This was reported to Decius. The princes were arrested and brought before the emperor, who commanded that the holy princes be locked up in prison. The Saints rejoiced and glorified God.
On the same day two other Persians, Olympios and Maximos, were brought before Decius and charged with being Christians. The Holy Martyrs were fiercely tortured and beheaded for their bold confession of faith in Christ. For five days their bodies lay unburied, but on the sixth day Christians secretly buried them at night.
Decius returned to Rome with Abdon and Sennes in chains. He told the Saints to offer sacrifice to the gods, promising them freedom and honors. The Holy Martyrs answered, “We offer ourselves in sacrifice to our God Jesus Christ, therefore offer your sacrifice to your own gods.” Decius sentenced them to be eaten by wild beasts. They set two lions upon them, and later on four bears, which would not touch the Holy Martyrs, but instead lay at their feet. Then they ran Abdon and Sennes through with swords. Their bodies lay for three days before an idol to frighten Christians. By night a secret Christian named Cyrenius took the bodies of the martyrs and buried them in his own home. The Holy Martyrs Abdon and Sennes suffered in the year 251. Their relics are preserved in the Church of Saint Mark at Rome.
Notes:
* According to the Venerable Bede in his Martyrology, Polychronios, Bishop of Babylon, was commemorated on February 17th; Parmenios, Helimas, Chrysotelis, Luke and Moukos were commemorated together on April 22nd; and Olympios and Maximos were commemorated on April 15th. Today these Holy Martyrs are only commemorated in the Slavic Calendars together on July 30th and are completely absent from the Greek Calendars. Saint Neophytos the Recluse confuses the Hieromartyr Polychronios of Babylon with the Hieromartyr Polychronios of Cyprus who is commemorated on October 7th.
