Anectus of Corinth

Holy Martyr Anectus of Corinth is commemorated together with Holy Martyr Codratus and many others, among them Cyprian, Dionysius, Paul, Crescens, Dionysius, Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, Papias, Leonides, the martyrs Chariessa, Nunechia, Basilissa, Nike, Gali, Galina, Theodora and others. They suffered in the third century, in the time of Decius (249 to 251). They are commemorated on 23 March.

In the time of the persecution a pious woman, Rufina, fled from Corinth to the mountains. There she bore a son, Codratus, and died soon after the birth. By God's providence the infant stayed alive and was fed in a wondrous way: a cloud descended on him and nourished him with sweet dew. Codratus's childhood and youth passed in the wilderness. Grown, he met Christians who enlightened him with the light of the true faith. He learned to read, then learned the art of medicine and became very skilled in it, but he loved more the silence of the wilderness and spent most of his time in the mountains, praying and meditating on God. After many years his friends and followers often came to the wilderness to hear his teaching, among them Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens and many others.

At the command of the persecutor Decius the commander Jason came to Corinth. Saint Codratus was seized with his friends and thrown into prison. At the interrogations Jason addressed himself mostly to Codratus, as the eldest. The saint courageously defended his faith in Christ the Saviour. Then they began to torture him. Saint Codratus, despite inhuman sufferings, found in himself the strength to support the others, assuring them not to fear and to stand firm for the faith. Failing to obtain anyone's denial, Jason ordered the martyrs thrown to wild beasts, but the beasts did not touch them. The saints were tied by the feet to chariots and dragged through the city, and many in the crowd threw stones at them. In the end the martyrs were sentenced to be beheaded. At the place of execution the saints asked for a little time for prayer, then, one after another, approached the executioner, bowing their heads under the raised sword.

The other disciples of Saint Codratus also suffered for Christ: the other Dionysius was stabbed with a knife; Victorinus, Victor and Nicephorus were crushed alive in a huge stone mortar; Claudius had his hands and feet cut off; Diodorus threw himself into the fire prepared for him; Serapion was beheaded; Papias and Leonides were drowned in the sea. Imitating the men, many holy women also went willingly to torment for Christ.