Artemas of Cyzicus

Holy Martyr Artemas of Cyzicus suffered at the end of the third century, between about 284 and 292, together with eight companions: Theognides, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Magnus, Theodotus, Thaumasius and Philemon. The nine martyrs are commemorated on 12 May.

Cyzicus lies in Asia Minor, on the shore of the Dardanelles. Christianity had spread there already from the time of the preaching of the Holy Apostle Paul. But the persecutions of the pagans had led some Christians to flee the city, while others kept their faith in secret. So at the end of the third century Cyzicus was largely pagan, though it had a Christian church. This state of things grieved the true Christians. To them belonged the nine martyrs, who came from different places and were of different ages, young like Antipater and old like Rufus, and of various stations: among them were soldiers, villagers, townsmen and clerics. All of them were united by faith in Christ and zeal for the spreading and strengthening of the true faith.

Arriving in Cyzicus, the saints boldly confessed Christ and fearlessly rebuked the unbelief of the pagans. They were seized and taken to the judgment of the governor of the city. For several days they were tormented, shut in prison and brought out again, with the promise of freedom if they would renounce Christ. But the soldiers of Christ continued to glorify His Name. All nine were beheaded with the sword, and their bodies were buried near the city.

In the year 324, when the eastern half of the empire came under the rule of Saint Constantine the Great and the persecutions ceased, the Christians of Cyzicus took from the earth the incorrupt bodies of the nine martyrs and placed them in a church built in their honour. From the holy relics various wonders flowed: the sick were healed and the insane returned to their senses. The faith of Christ was strengthened in the city through the prayer of the martyrs, and many pagans were baptised.

In the time of Julian the Apostate (361-363), the pagans of Cyzicus complained to him that the Christians had ruined the idol temples. Julian ordered the temples restored and Bishop Eleusius imprisoned. After the death of Julian, Eleusius was freed, and the light of the faith again shone in Cyzicus under the protection of the holy martyrs.

In Russia, not far from Kazan, the hierodeacon Stephen founded a monastery in honour of the nine martyrs of Cyzicus, bringing with him from Palestine a part of their relics. The monastery was raised in the hope of deliverance from illness, especially from the fever that raged in Kazan in 1687. Saint Dimitry of Rostov (died 1709), the author of the service to the nine martyrs, wrote that abundant grace was given to these saints for driving away fevers. He also described their sufferings and composed a homily for the day of their commemoration.