By Fr. George Dorbarakis
A. Concerning Saint Leonides, there is not sufficient information. Most historians identify the Saint with the martyr Leonidas who is commemorated on April 16. And for those who distinguish the two Saints, Saint Leonides, Bishop of Athens, was the sixth bishop of Athens and ended his life peacefully, whereas the one identified with the martyr Leonidas was from the Peloponnese.
Whether as a bishop or as a layman, however, he was found in Epidaurus and was arrested for his faith in Christ together with seven women, and all of them suffered many torments. At first they hung up the Saint and tore his flesh. Then they threw him into the sea together with the seven holy women, after tying stones to their feet.
Thus they found a martyric death and received the crown of their contest. Their holy relics were found in a wondrous manner in 1916. In any case, whether it concerns one Saint Leonides or two different ones, both lived around the middle of the third century under Decius.
In Athens there is an early Christian church (crypt) in the name of Saint Leonides behind the columns of the Olympian Zeus.
B. If historians are troubled about whether there existed one or two saints with the name Leonides/Leonidas, the ecclesiastical poet considers the matter resolved: it concerns one Leonides, who was a Holy Bishop of Athens and offered himself as a martyrial sacrifice to the Lord. In almost every troparion of his Service reference is made to the double dimension of his sanctity: both that of Shepherd and that of martyr. By way of example: “By what spiritual songs shall we extol the Hierarch? The most glorious among priests and invincible among the Athletes, who shone in both ways to the world; for like an angel he ministered to Christ and contended steadfastly in martyrial struggles” (Vespers Sticheron). “Having completed your course, O Saint, you received a double crown from the King of all, as a Hierarch and glorious Martyr” (Ode 9).
Thus the martyrdom of Saint Leonides was a natural consequence of his sanctified apostolic life. For the Saint lived like the holy disciples of the Lord, shining with their virtues as a faithful follower of Christ. And his martyrdom was entirely grace-filled for the additional reason that he was crucified like the Lord. The Holy Hymnographer guides us both concerning his life and his martyrdom: “For with an evangelical way of life he was filled with apostolic gifts, and he made clear to all the mystery of piety in word, in conduct, and in the manifestation of higher things; and as a true shepherd, he laid down his life for his sheep, imitating Christ” (Lity). “You ministered the Gospel of Christ, bearing the divinely-inspired zeal of the Apostles” (Kathisma of Matins).
The Saint had the blessing to suffer martyrdom, but in a cruciform manner, as we said, like the Lord. One is reminded here of the Apostle Andrew, who was also crucified, but upside down. Saint Leonides did not have such a choice. The tyrannical ruler wished the Martyr to have the death of his Leader, without understanding, of course, that this constitutes the greatest blessing for a truly faithful man. The descriptions of the poet are striking: “Being lifted upon the Cross like the Master, you were shown to be a partaker of His life-giving sufferings, O most sacred one” (Ode 3).
Seeing the endurance and courage of the Saint, the tyrant grew enraged and added fury upon fury, thinking that by increasing the tortures he would break his brave resolve. But the wretched man could not see what a martyr sees and feels — the grace of God that strengthens him in a supernatural way. Let us listen to the Holy Hymnographer:
“When those who tore your flesh saw you, O holy one, bearing the pains bravely and desiring to suffer more for the love of Christ, they utterly tore apart your much-contested body” (Ode 5).
“As you were raised upon the wood, O wise Leonides, and were torn apart by the tearing of your body, you became conformed to the sufferings of the Master Christ; therefore you were shown to be a partaker of His radiance and His glory” (Ode 7).
“Tear and rend his flesh, the tyrant cried to those who were mangling you, until you destroy him and bring him to death. But you, O holy Father, as you were being tortured, rejoiced, for with the eyes of your soul you saw the Savior granting you strength” (Ode 8).
Elsewhere: “O most wise Father Leonides, with an unshaken soul and a courageous mind, you completed the most beautiful contest of martyrdom and endured the unbearable tearing of your body as though another were suffering” (Praises).
Our breath is taken away by the “painting” made by the Holy Hymnographer. Yet we also rejoice, because we share in his divinely-inspired vision — what is taking place in depth, behind the visible events. But our awe together with a paradoxical warmth increases, because the martyrdom of the Saint is also the martyrdom of seven holy women, disciples and faithful of the Lord, whose trainer — that is, guide and encourager — was the Saint.
“He contended steadfastly in martyrial struggles with God-bearing women, as a wise trainer and teacher of piety” (Vespers Sticheron).
“The most modest women were strengthened with you, being empowered by the might of the all-sovereign Lord to destroy the cunning enemy; for as a most excellent shepherd, Father, you led your lambs to the good Shepherd and found a worthy reward” (Ode 9).
The holy poet, of course, does not cease to emphasize, beyond the power that moved the martyrs — the fervent love for Christ (“Having as fire the desire for the love of Christ, the modest women struggled with you, O wondrous Father”: Odes 4, 8, etc.) — also the grace that glorious Athens enjoyed and enjoys from the fact that Saint Leonides was its bishop, like Saints Dionysios and Hierotheos (“For with Dionysios the divinely-inspired and Hierotheos, it acquired you Leonides as a divine shepherd” - Ode 9), as well as that there, in that city, are the holy fragrant relics both of him and of the women who contended with him. And it is significant his note that the Saint was overshadowing the city, even if the inhabitants of Athens were unaware of the precious treasure hidden in its depths, since in later times the holy relics both of him and of the holy women were found. “Like a heavenly treasure, the renowned Metropolis of Athens once possessed the coffin of your relics, O Saint Leonides; but now it blesses you as a glorious shepherd and fervent helper and intercessor and mediator to the Lord” (Vespers Sticheron).
What then remains for the faithful Athenians, but also for all Greeks and Orthodox everywhere in the world, before this great treasure of the faith, the apostolic man, great Leonides? The holy poet briefly proposes: “Come therefore, let us be filled with the fragrance of life, and let us celebrate in spirit and in truth” (Doxastikon of Vespers).
There is no other way to honor a saint and a martyr than to open our spiritual senses, following the path of the Lord and his path — that is, to purify our heart from sins, and thus to celebrate as the Lord said to the Samaritan woman, the Holy Great Martyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Photini: God is honored and celebrated only “in spirit and in truth.”
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
