August 22: Orthodox Saints August 22: Orthodox Saints
| The Martyrs Agathonikes, Zotikos, Theoprepios [in Slavonic: Bogolep], Akyndinos, Severian, Zinon and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonikes was descended from the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia (now Izmit). Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many people to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its "princeps" or leader). Comitus Evtolmius was sent to the Pontine region, where he crucified the followers of the Christian Zotikos, all who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols, but Zotikos himself he took with him. In Nicomedia, Evtolmius arrested Agathonikes (together with the princeps), and also Theoprepios, Akyndinos, and Severian. Finally, Evtolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for trial by the emperor. But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, he put to death the Martyrs Zotikos, Theoprepios and Akyndinos -- who were unable to proceed further behind the chariot of the governor because of wounds received during the time of torture. The Martyr Severian was put to death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonikes together with others were executed by order of the emperor, in Selymbria. | Notes for this article: Places: People: |
| The PriestMartyr Athanasias, bishop of the Cilician city of Tarsus, who baptised the Nun Anthysa, was executed by the order the emperor Aurelian (270-275). | Notes: |
| Nun Anthysa, a native of the city of Seleucia (in Syria). Learning of the teachings of Christ, she journeyed to Tarsus to Saint Athanasias and received Baptism from him. Her parents were enraged at their daughter for becoming a Christian. But she then -- having received monastic tonsure from Saint Athanasias -- settled in the wilderness, where she spent 23 years at ascetic deeds and died at the end of the 3rd Century. The Martyrs Charisimos and Neophytes, who had been baptised together with the Nun Anthysa, were her servants and they too accepted death for Christ. | Notes: |
| The Martyress Eulalia lived in Spain, near the city of Barcionum [at present now -- Barcelona], and she was raised by her parents in piety and the Christian faith. Already at 14 years of age, she spent a solitary life in the parental home, occupied with several of her own age in prayer, the reading of Holy Scripture, and handicrafts. During the time of a persecution against Christians -- that under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (284-305) -- the governor Dacian came to Barcionum to rid it of Christians. Hearing about this, Eulalia secretly left her home by night and by morning had made her way into the city. Pushing her way through the throng of people, she made a bold denunciation of Dacian for forcing people to renounce the True God to instead offer sacrifice to devils. Dacian gave orders to torture her. However, she began to pray that the Lord would take her to Heaven to Himself, and with this prayer she died. At that time, people saw a white dove, flying up from her mouth to Heaven. She was buried by night by Christians. | Notes: |
| The Monk Bogolep (Bogolep means "God-worthy") was a disciple of the Monk Paisii of Uglich . Both in the secular world and in the monastery Bogolep was a baker of bread. A wonderworking icon of the Protection ["Pokrov"] of the MostHoly Mother of God appeared to him, when he went early in the morning for water to the Volga. He saw the icon standing at the riverbank and gleaming with Heavenly Light. Forgetting about the water, the Monk Bogolep quickly ran back to the monastery and told everything to the Monk Paisii. The Monks Adrian, Vassian, Bogolep and Paisii in company with all the monastery brethren carried the icon to the monastery. | Notes: |