Akaki Asistavi

Holy Martyr Akaki Asistavi (Acacius the Centurion) was born in Cappadocia and was a centurion in the regiment of Martisia. When, by order of the emperor Maximian Galerius, the persecution of Christians began, the commander Term questioned his soldiers one by one. Akaki confessed openly and firmly that he was a Christian, so Term sent him to the commander in chief Vivian. By Vivian's order the saint was cruelly tortured, put in heavy chains and shut in a cell. After a short time the martyr was taken to Byzantium with other Christians. When they stopped for the night, the saint thanked the Lord for the chance to confess Him, and in prayer he heard a voice from heaven: "Be strong, Akaki." The other prisoners also heard the voice and believed in Christ.

In Byzantium he was treated harshly. At night the prisoners saw young men in garments of light come to the saint, wash his wounds and bring him food. After seven days Vivian summoned him again and, seeing his lively face, thought the guard was bringing him food; he ordered the guard whipped, but Akaki himself told the executioner that the Lord Jesus Christ had given him strength and healed his wounds. Furious, Vivian beat him terribly and sent him for further tortures to the governor Flaccinus, who beheaded the confessor without hesitation. In the time of Constantine the Great the saint's relics lay in Constantinople, and later they were moved to Calabria. He died in the year 303. The Church of Georgia commemorates him on 7 May (old style; 20 May new style).