Athanasius of Salamis

Saint Athanasius of Salamis, a reader, suffered in Cyprus together with the priest Aristocles and the deacon Demetrian, in the time of the persecution under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305 to 311). He is commemorated on 3 July. He died around the year 306.

Aristocles, a native of the city of Tamasos in Cyprus, served at the cathedral church. When the persecution began, he was afraid of the tortures, left the city and hid in a cave in the mountains. One day, while he was praying, a light shone around him and he heard the Lord's command to return to the island of Cyprus and suffer for Christ. The saint obeyed and went back; on the way he entered the church of the holy Apostle Barnabas, where he met the deacon Demetrian and the reader Athanasius and told them of the vision. Demetrian and Athanasius resolved to receive with him the crown of martyrdom.

Reaching the city of Salamis, the three began to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ to the people and to rebuke the folly of the idol-⁠worshippers. The pagans seized them, and the governor, seeing that they believed unshakably in Christ, ordered Aristocles beheaded and Demetrian and Athanasius burned. But even in the fire the martyrs remained unharmed, and afterwards they were beheaded with swords.