Ammun of Heraclea

Holy Hieromartyr Ammun of Heraclea, a deacon, suffered together with forty virgins at Hadrianople, at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of Emperor Licinius. He is commemorated on 14 September.

The forty virgins and the deacon Ammun, who had enlightened them with the light of faith in Christ, died as martyrs for Christ in the city of Hadrianople in Macedonia. The governor Babdus put the holy martyrs to many tortures to force them to deny Christ and bow to idols. After cruel torment all were sent to Heraclea, to another tormentor, before whom they likewise firmly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to sacrifice to idols. By the tormentor's order Saint Ammun and eight virgins with him were beheaded, ten virgins were burned, six of them died after red-⁠hot iron was put in their mouths, six were stabbed with a knife, and the rest were killed with swords. All remained faithful to Christ.