Aetius of Amorium

Saint Aetius of Amorium was one of the forty-⁠two soldiers of the city of Amorium in Galatia who were killed by the Saracens for their Christian faith. They are commemorated on 19 March.

During the war between the Greek emperor Theophilus (829 to 842) and the Saracens, the latter succeeded in besieging the city of Amorium. Through the treachery of a commander named Vaditzes, the city fell, and forty-⁠two of its defenders were taken captive and carried off to Syria. For seven years they endured a wearisome imprisonment, during which the captives were urged in vain to renounce the Christian faith and accept Islam. They stubbornly rejected every flattering offer and bravely bore the terrible threats. After many torments, having failed to break the spirit of the Christian soldiers, their captors condemned them to death.

Even just before the execution they tried once more to shake their steadfastness. They told Theodore that, having left the priestly rank to become a soldier and shed blood, he could not hope in Christ and should confess Muhammad. The martyr answered firmly that he had not renounced Christ, and that for having left the priestly rank he must shed his own blood.

The condemned walked calmly and without fear to the executioners. They were beheaded, and their bodies were thrown into the river Euphrates. In the service the saints are praised as Theodore "all-⁠blessed", Callistus "invincible", Constantine "valiant", Theophilus "wonderful" and Basoes "mighty". Other names of those who suffered include Aetius and Melissenus. The traitor Vaditzes did not escape a shameful fate: the enemy knew that a traitor could not be trusted, and put him to death.