Capito of Cherson

Holy Hieromartyr Capito of Cherson was bishop of Tauric Chersonesos, sent by Saint Emperor Constantine the Great, and died drowned at the mouth of the Dnieper. The Church commemorates him on 7 March (20 March, new style), together with the other martyr bishops of Cherson, and on 28 December in the Synaxis of the Saints of Crimea.

The bishops of Cherson

The holy hieromartyrs Basil, Ephraim, Eugene, Elpidius, Agathodorus, Etherius and Capito brought the good news of Christ to the lands north of the Black Sea, from the Danube to the Dnieper, including Crimea, and sealed their apostolate by martyrdom in the fourth century, in the city of Tauric Chersonesos. The Christian faith had entered Crimea long before the Baptism of Saint Vladimir. The enlightenment of Taurica by faith in Christ was begun by the holy Apostle Andrew the First-⁠Called. The spread of Christianity there was furthered, against their will, by its very enemies: the Roman emperors exiled state criminals there, among whom in the first three centuries confessors of Christ were counted. So in the time of Trajan Saint Clement, bishop of Rome, was exiled to the Inkerman quarries, where he continued his preaching and received martyrdom.

In the year 300 Patriarch Hermon of Jerusalem sent many bishops to various countries. Two of them, Ephraim and Basil, reached Cherson. Ephraim then went to the peoples along the Danube, where he suffered many afflictions, and was beheaded in the persecution. Basil continued the preaching at Cherson and brought many idol-⁠worshippers to the path of truth. Others, embittered, seized him, beat him mercilessly and drove him out of the city. Withdrawn to the mountains, in a cave, he prayed unceasingly for those who had driven him away. The Lord sent the unbelievers a miracle: a prominent citizen lost his only son, who appeared in a dream to his parents and told them that Basil could raise him by his prayers to the true God. The parents sought out the saint, who answered that he was a sinful man, but the Lord is almighty and can grant the request if they believe in Him. He prayed long, blessed water and poured it over the dead man, who revived. The saint was brought back to the city with honour, and many believed and were baptized.

Soon, by order of Emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311), persecution broke out again. On 7 March 309 pagans entered Basil's house at night, bound him, dragged him through the streets and killed him with stones and sticks. His body was thrown outside the city, lying many days unburied but untouched, then Christians buried it in secret in a cave. After a year three of his companions, the bishops Eugene, Elpidius and Agathodorus, came to Cherson from the Hellespont to continue his work, and shared the same fate: they were stoned on 7 March 311.

Capito

After a few years, in the time of Saint Constantine the Great, the bishop Etherius came to Cherson from Jerusalem. At first he met opposition from the pagans, but the emperor issued a decree by which the Christians of Cherson could serve without hindrance. Through Etherius's care a church was built in the city, and he shepherded his flock in peace. Going to Constantinople to thank the emperor, he fell ill on the return and died on the island of Amos, on 7 March. In his place Constantine sent to Cherson the bishop Capito. The Christians received him with joy, but the pagans demanded of the new bishop a sign in order to believe in the God he preached. Placing all his hope in the Lord, Saint Capito, in episcopal vestments, entered a blazing pyre, prayed long in the fire and came out unharmed, carrying live coals in his phelonion. Many unbelievers were then convinced of the power of the God of the Christians. Of this miracle and of Capito's great faith it was announced to Saint Constantine and the holy fathers at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325).

After some years Capito set out for Constantinople on business, but a storm drove the ship to the mouth of the Dnieper. The pagan natives seized the ship and drowned all on board, among them Saint Capito. This happened on 21 December. The Church has appointed the commemoration of this bishop with the other martyrs of Cherson on 7 March. The preaching of the holy martyrs strengthened faith in Christ at Cherson. From the beginning of the fifth century the city became a spiritual centre from which Christianity spread north toward Rus. In 987 Saint Prince Vladimir, equal to the Apostles, was baptized in Cherson.