Asclas of Egypt

The Holy Martyr Asclas of Egypt was a Christian, born in the city of Great Hermopolis (Middle Egypt). He suffered under Diocletian (284 to 305). Brought before the governor Arrian, he boldly confessed his faith and refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. He predicted to Arrian that a time would come when he himself would be forced to call on Jesus Christ as the one true God.

By Arrian's order they began to torture him cruelly: they suspended him and raked him with iron instruments so that pieces of his flesh fell to the ground. Asclas quietly endured the torments. When one of those present said, "Look, he is already unconscious and near death," the martyr answered: "I have not lost consciousness, and unceasingly I glorify my God and Savior." The governor ordered the tortures to be resumed in the city of Antinoe, on the opposite bank of the Nile, where he soon meant to go. The martyr prayed to God to hold back Arrian's boat until he had confessed the Lord Jesus Christ before all the people. The boat suddenly halted in the middle of the river, and not even oars could move it. Arrian ascribed the miracle to sorcery. In drawing up the saint's sentence, the governor happened to say something about the one true God, and then the boat sailed on to shore. Going into the city, Arrian again ordered the saint suspended and scorched with fire. Finally he was sentenced to be drowned in the river. The martyr said to the Christians accompanying him: "Strive, brethren, to receive the rewards of the Lord God. My children, come to the north part of the city in three days and find my body. Bury it with the stone that will be tied to it."

The martyrdom of Saint Asclas occurred around the year 287, not far from the city of Antinoe. On the third day Christians found the martyr's body and buried it with the stone. He is commemorated on 20 May (new style; 2 June on the old calendar).