Babylas of Sicily

Saint Babylas, hieromartyr, was a hermit and priest who struggled on the island of Sicily. He died a martyr at the end of the third century, together with two of his disciples. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on 24 January by the old calendar, which is 6 February by the new.

Babylas was born in the city of Reopolis, into a rich Christian family. He studied at Antioch. In his youth he left his parents' house and lived as an ascetic on a mountain near Rome. There he was ordained priest. Two of his disciples, Agapius and Timothy, struggled together with him on the mountain. Because of the pagan persecutions, Babylas moved with his disciples to Sicily. There the local ruler, displeased with the Christian preaching which the saint carried on among the people of the place, subjected him to tortures and then ordered that he be put to the sword. According to the Serbian source, Babylas suffered for Christ together with his two disciples.