Astion of Halmyris

Holy Venerable Martyr Astion of Halmyris was a monk and suffered in the time of Emperor Diocletian, together with the priest Epictetus. The two venerable martyrs were condemned to beheading with the sword around the year 290. They are commemorated on 20 July.

The priest Epictetus, a virtuous man, had given himself to God from his youth. He received the gift of working wonders, and through his prayers many healings were wrought for those tormented by unclean spirits and various illnesses. One day a young pagan of noble birth, Astion, the son of the city governor, passing on a walk, came to Epictetus. In a long conversation Epictetus enlightened him and sowed the Word of God in his soul, speaking to him of the true God, of the great value of the immortal human soul, and of the worthlessness of short-⁠lived earthly pleasures.

Believing in Christ and receiving Holy Baptism, the young man began to ask his teacher earnestly to leave with him for a distant country, to give his whole life to God. Boarding a ship, Epictetus and Astion set out for the land of the Scythians. At the mouth of the Danube they settled near the city of Halmyris, among pagans, and led a life of fasting and prayer. The God-⁠pleasing life of the hermits could not long remain hidden. People came to them with various illnesses and possessed by evil spirits and received healing through their prayers. The pagans too began to ask help from the holy ascetics and, finding relief in their sufferings, turned to Christ.

At that time the head of the region, Latronian, arrived at Halmyris, and the pagan priests denounced Epictetus and Astion, saying that they drew people to their faith by sorcery. The saints were seized and questioned. After thirty days in prison without food or water, the martyrs Epictetus and Astion stood again before the judge Latronian, ready to bravely accept new sufferings for Christ. They were condemned to beheading with the sword. The parents of the martyr Astion, Alexander and Marcellina, received Holy Baptism from Evangelus, bishop of the city of Tomis, who soon also suffered for Christ, likewise by the sword. The relics of the two martyrs were found in 2001 at Halmyris, near Murighiol in Tulcea County.