Alexander of Lyon

Holy Martyr Alexander of Lyon was a young Christian of Greek origin, put to death by crucifixion for his faith in Christ during the persecution at Lugdunum (today Lyon) in 177-178, in the time of Marcus Aurelius. He is honoured as a saint of the undivided Church, together with Saint Epipodius.

After the pagans of Lyon put to death the holy bishop Pothinus and his companions, Alexander and Epipodius, frightened by the tortures, left the city and hid in the hut of a Christian widow. Alexander was a Greek, Epipodius was born in Lugdunum. They had grown up together, bound from childhood by a spiritual friendship, and had studied and been baptized together. A spy found them and took them to prison; at the trial both confessed themselves Christians, which provoked the fury of the judge and the crowd.

Epipodius was beheaded first. On the next day, or two days later, the judge brought Alexander in and tried to frighten him with the tale of the tortures. Alexander answered that in doing so he only kindled his desire to follow the martyrs, and that the name of Christians, which the judge hoped to erase, would shine even brighter. The judge ordered three executioners to scourge him in turn, and then, seeing that he could not break him, condemned him to crucifixion. Pious Christians stole the bodies of the two martyrs and hid them in a cave in the neighbourhood of Lyon, which became famous for the miracles worked there.

The Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Alexander on 24 April and Saint Epipodius on 22 April, by the old calendar.