Ascalon of Antinoe

Holy Martyr Ascalon of Antinoe was a Christian, born in Hermopolis in Middle Egypt, and suffered in the third century, in the time of Diocletian (284-305). He is commemorated on 2 June. He died around the year 287, near the city of Antinoe.

Brought before the governor Arrian, Ascalon boldly confessed his faith and refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. He foretold to Arrian that an hour would come when he too would be forced to call Jesus Christ the only true God. By Arrian's order the saint was cruelly tormented: he was hung up and torn with iron tools, so that pieces of his body fell to the ground. He endured the torments in silence. When someone among those present said that he was senseless and near death, the martyr answered that he had not lost his senses and did not cease to glorify his God and Creator.

Arrian ordered the martyr taken to Antinoe, on the other bank of the Nile, to continue the torments, and he himself intended to arrive soon. The martyr prayed to God to hold Arrian's boat in place until he should confess the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ before the people. Arrian's boat stopped suddenly in the middle of the river, and the rowers could not move it. Arrian ascribed the wonder to the sorcery of Ascalon. By the saint's command the governor had to write a confession of the one true God, and then the boat reached the shore. Entering the city, Arrian ordered Ascalon hung up again and his body burned with fire, and then to be drowned in the depth of the river. To the Christians who accompanied him, the martyr said to strive to receive the reward from the Lord, and on the third day to come to the northern part of the city, where they would find his body, and to bury it together with the stone tied to it. On the third day the Christians found the martyr's body and, according to his word, buried it with honour, together with the stone.