By Fr. George Dorbarakis
1. These three holy martyrs lived during the reign of Probus. Of these, Sabbatios was found standing accused before the Vicar in Antioch on account of his Christian faith. After being severely tortured and shut up in prison, he gave up his spirit amid his sufferings. Trophimos, on the other hand, after having iron soles placed upon his feet as though they were sandals and being exiled to the region of Synnada, was severely tortured there, together with Dorymedon, and in the end they were beheaded.
2. These three holy martyrs are not very well known among the fullness of the Church, as is, of course, similarly the case with many other of our Saints, whether martyrs, ascetics, or Saints belonging to some other group. This, however, does not mean that they are any less holy than those who are better known among the faithful. Many, for example, may know Saint George and Saint Demetrios, among the Great Martyrs and those who have particular boldness before the Lord our God; yet we likewise believe that Saints Trophimos, Sabbatios, and Dorymedon have a powerful intercession for us before the Lord, since what led them to martyrdom was the same thing that we point out in all those regarded as great Saints: their love for God, burning love like fire, and their complete turning toward Him. “The three, burning with love for the revered Trinity,” “being wholly adorned by their inclinations toward the Divine,” as the Hymnographer characteristically notes.
For this reason, they too are called “Great Martyrs,” while even the holy angels marveled at the life and martyrdom of these Saints: “The Powers of heaven marveled at the struggles of the holy martyrs.” In reality, once again these martyrs become the occasion for the Lord to be glorified, since their martyrdom was a participation in the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Saints followed in His footsteps, and by His power they endured all their sufferings. “Following in the footsteps of the sufferings of Christ, O Martyrs … you endured temptations with courageous resolve,” and “strengthened by the power of the Cross.” At the same time, one is moved by the humility of these Saints, not only in the sense that this virtue characterized their spiritual life, but also in the sense of their “diminution” in the consciousness of the faithful. We do not know whether this humility of theirs perhaps exalts them even more before our God. Which Saint has said that the unknown Saints are also the greatest before Him?
Let us, however, leave aside these assessments concerning a great and a lesser Saint, which belong to the counsels of God. The important thing is that all the Saints are our most beloved and faithful friends and continually intercede for us. And let us bring to the surface a very beautiful image of the ecclesiastical poet concerning Saint Trophimos, something that certainly applies to all the Saints as well: “Trophimos … by your blood, as you walked upon the earth, you sanctified it, while now you walk joyfully in Paradise, asking salvation for us.” That is, you walked, O Martyr Trophimos, and with the blood of your martyrdom you sanctified the earth upon which you walked, while now, on your joyful walks in Paradise, you ask the Lord for salvation on our behalf. With his inspiration, firmly grounded in faith in Christ and His Church, the Hymnographer opens our eyes and takes us on a walk through the Saint’s present and past: the Saint rejoices and exults as he walks in Paradise, walking in the light and love of Christ, which causes him continually to intercede for us who are still being buffeted by the storms of this world. But in order to reach this blessedness, his walking in this world had to come first. And this walking was a “martyrdom of blood,” together with the spiritual struggle to keep the commandments of God and the struggle of bodily martyrdom. At the same time, however, this walking also constituted the sanctification of the world. This is the blessed presence of the Saints: while they live, they sanctify the earth upon which they walk, and after death they sanctify us through their prayers. “Through their holy intercessions, O Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.”
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
