Callistus of Amorium

Holy Martyr Callistus of Amorium was one of the forty-⁠two martyrs of Amorium, Christian soldiers killed by the Saracens after seven years of captivity, in the time of the Emperor Theophilus (829-842). The Church commemorates them on 19 March (new style).

In the war between the Greek emperor Theophilus and the Saracens, the latter succeeded in besieging the city of Amorium in Galatia. Through the treason of the commander Vadizes, Amorium fell, and forty-⁠two of its defenders, soldiers, were taken prisoner and led to Syria. For seven years, in painful captivity, the prisoners were urged in vain to renounce the Christian faith and accept Islam. They rejected all flattering offers and faced dreadful threats with courage. After many tortures, having been unable to break the spirit of the Christian soldiers, they condemned them to death. The hope was to shake their steadfastness even at the moment of execution. To the soldier Theodore they said: "We know that you left holy orders and became a soldier and shed blood. You cannot hope in Christ, acknowledge Mohammed." The martyr answered firmly: "I have not renounced Christ, and for leaving holy orders I must shed my blood."

The condemned approached the executioners calmly and without fear. Their heads were cut off, and the bodies were thrown into the river Euphrates. In the service the sufferers are praised: "all-⁠blessed" Theodore, "invincible" Callistus, "valiant" Constantine, "wonderful" Theophilus and "strongest" Basoes. The traitor Vadizes did not escape a shameful fate: the enemies knew that a traitor could not be trusted and killed him. Of the names of the martyrs, Constantine, Aetius, Theophilus, Theodore, Melissenus, Callistus, Basoes and others are known.