Callimachus of Thrace

Holy Martyr Callimachus of Thrace was a soldier in the army of Julian the Apostate and died a martyr's death in the fourth century, in the year 362, together with Barbarus, Bacchus and Dionysius. The Church commemorates him on 19 May (new style).

Barbarus was a secret Christian. In the war with the Franks he won a duel against a giant warrior of the enemy, and so gained great honour in the army and the emperor's favour, receiving the title of comes (the emperor's guard). After the victory over the Franks, the commander Bacchus wished to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods and offered Barbarus the honour of the first sacrifice, as victor. Then Barbarus openly declared himself a Christian and refused the sacrifice. By order of Julian the Apostate he was subjected to many tortures: he was hung up and his body cut until his entrails came out. Barbarus cried to the Lord for help, and an angel of God healed his wounds without a trace. Seeing the miracle, the commander Bacchus and two soldiers, Callimachus and Dionysius, believed in Christ and renounced the pagan gods. For this their heads were cut off at once.

They went on tormenting Saint Barbarus. They bound him to a wheel, under which they lit a mighty fire, and poured oil over his body. But now too the power of God kept him unharmed, and the fire turned upon the tormentors, scorched many and destroyed two. Then the martyr was tormented for seven more days, but remained unharmed by wondrous help from above. Seeing in this the power of God, many pagans turned to faith in the true God. At last Saint Barbarus ended his glorious struggle and in the year 362 his head was cut off with the sword. The body of the martyr was buried in the city of Methone in the Peloponnese by the devout bishop Philicius.