Ardalion

Holy Martyr Ardalion was an actor and mime and died a martyr in the time of the emperors Maximian and Galerius (305-311), in the year 306 according to our record. He is commemorated on 14 April.

He worked in the theatre and played comedies and dramas. One day the idea came to him to imitate on stage the resistance of Christians before tyrants: he let himself be hung up high on the stage and pretended to be torn apart because he would not offer sacrifice to the gods. The performance was so striking that the people began to applaud warmly the actor's skill and the courage of the Christians. In his role Ardalion first refused to sacrifice to idols, then seemed to yield and renounce Christ. Suddenly he ordered everyone to be silent and said that he was in truth a Christian.

Hearing this, the official urged him to change his mind, but Ardalion persisted in his confession. Then the governor ordered him thrown onto an iron grill made red-⁠hot with fire, and so the saint received the crown of martyrdom.