Abdon

Holy Martyr Abdon, a Persian prince and a secret Christian, received the crown of martyrdom at Rome in the year 251, in the persecution of Emperor Decius (249-251), together with Sennis. Commemorated with them on 12 August are Bishop Polychronius of Babylon, the priests Parmenius, Helimas and Chrysotelus, the deacons Luke and Mucus, and the martyrs Olympius and Maximus.

The martyrs of Babylon

After defeating the Persians and taking possession of their land, Decius found many Christians there and began to persecute them. Bishop Polychronius of Babylon, together with the priests Parmenius, Helimas and Chrysotelus and the deacons Luke and Mucus, were seized and brought to the emperor, who ordered them to sacrifice to the idols. Polychronius answered boldly that they offered themselves as a sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ and that they would never bow to worthless idols made by human hands. Decius was angered and threw them into prison. At the second trial, Polychronius stood silent, and the emperor said to the priests that their chief had been struck dumb. Parmenius answered that the holy bishop had not become mute, but did not wish to defile his pure mouth and cast pearls before swine. Angered, Decius ordered Parmenius's tongue cut out. Nevertheless Parmenius turned to Polychronius and said clearly: pray for me, father, for I see the Holy Spirit upon you. By Decius's order the bishop was struck on the mouth with a stone and, lifting his eyes to heaven, gave up his soul. His body lay before the temple of Saturn. At night two Persian princes, Abdon and Sennis, secret Christians, came and buried the saint's body beside the city wall.

At Cordula

Soon Decius went to the city of Cordula and ordered the three priests and the two deacons to be led after him. At Cordula he again forced them to sacrifice to the idols, but Parmenius, though without a tongue, answered loudly and firmly with a refusal on behalf of all. Decius, thinking that Parmenius spoke without a tongue by the power of sorcery, ordered the torments increased and the martyrs burned with fire. Then a voice was heard from heaven calling those humble in heart. Decius counted this voice also as a deed of sorcery and ordered their heads cut off. The princes Abdon and Sennis stole the bodies of the martyrs by night and buried them in their village near Cordula. Decius learned of it, and the princes were seized and brought to the emperor. Seeing their firmness and their confession of Christ, he ordered them shut in prison. The saints rejoiced and glorified God for this lot.

Suffering at Rome

On the same day two other Persians, Olympius and Maximus, were brought to Decius as Christians. For their bold confession of Christ the holy martyrs were, after cruel tortures, beheaded with the sword. For five days their bodies lay unburied, and on the sixth day the Christians buried them secretly, by night, with honour. Returning to Rome, Decius took Abdon and Sennis with him in chains. At Rome he summoned a pagan priest and ordered the saints to sacrifice to the gods, promising freedom and honours. The martyrs answered that they sacrificed only themselves to their God Jesus Christ, and that he should sacrifice to his own gods himself. Decius then condemned them to the beasts. Two lions and then four bears let loose upon them did not touch them, but lay down at their feet. Then Abdon and Sennis were cut down with swords. Their bodies lay for three days before the idol, to frighten the Christians. At night a secret Christian named Cyrinus took the bodies of the martyrs and buried them in his house. Their relics are kept in Rome, in the church of Saint Mark.