Alexander the Blacksmith

Saint Alexander the Blacksmith of Katalita suffered together with his brothers, the smiths Alpheus and Zosimas, in the time of the emperor Diocletian (284 to 305), in Asia Minor, along with the holy martyrs Mark, Nicon, Neon and Heliodorus. They are commemorated on 11 October.

Saint Mark, a shepherd, was seized for his open confession of the Christian faith in the neighbourhood of Antioch of Pisidia. Thirty soldiers who took him were turned to the faith by him and were beheaded at Nicaea, while Mark was put to torture. To make the instruments of torture three brothers, smiths from the village of Katalita (or Kalita), Alexander, Alpheus and Zosimas, were summoned, but the iron would not yield and melted, and the smiths' hands went numb. Hearing a voice calling them to suffer with Saint Mark, the brothers believed in Christ. After cruel tortures molten tin was poured down their throats (28 September). Mark, after tortures, was beheaded at Claudiopolis (21 September). When the holy martyr's head was carried into the temple of Artemis, all the idols fell and shattered. The witnesses of this wonder, Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus, maidens and children, believed in Christ, confessed their faith and died as martyrs at Maromilia (13 July).