Alexander of Perge

Saint Alexander of Perge, a farmer, suffered together with the holy martyrs Leontius, Attius, Cindeus, Minsitheus, Cyriacus, Mineon, Catun and Eucleus, in the city of Perga in Pamphylia, in the time of the emperor Diocletian (284 to 305). They are commemorated on 14 August.

All had been baptized in infancy. Saint Mineon was a carpenter, the others were farmers. In the time of the fierce persecution against Christians the saints ran with one mind to the struggle of martyrdom for Christ. They pulled down the temple of the goddess Artemis. For this they were put to cruel tortures and thrown to the beasts in the circus. But the beasts, tamed by the prayers of the martyrs, did not touch them. The onlookers were terrified and cried aloud: "Great is the God of the Christians." A terrible storm broke: at once hail and fire fell on the earth. A voice was heard from heaven calling the martyrs to the Kingdom of Heaven. Hearing this voice, the saints rejoiced greatly and, bowing their heads under the sword, received the crowns of martyrdom.