Candidus of Trebizond

Holy Martyr Candidus of Trebizond suffered in the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305), at the end of the third century, together with Eugene, Valerian and Aquila. The Church commemorates them on 3 February (new style).

The four suffered for faith in Christ under the commander Lysias. Valerian, Candidus and Aquila hid during the persecution in the mountains near Trebizond, preferring life among beasts to staying among pagans. But there too they were soon found and brought into the city. For their bold and unshaken confession of faith in Christ, the holy martyrs were beaten with oxhide thongs, scraped with iron, their wounds sprinkled with salt and burned with fire. After a few days Eugene was seized too and subjected to the same torments. After these tortures the four martyrs were thrown into a heated furnace, but when they came out of it unharmed, their heads were cut off.