Castricius of Melitene

Holy Martyr Castricius of Melitene is commemorated on 20 November (new style) among the martyrs who suffered at Melitene with the Holy Martyr Hieron. The page says nothing in particular about Castricius.

Hieron, born at Tyana in Cappadocia, was pressed by the official Lysias to enlist, but he refused to serve beside idol-⁠worshippers and put the soldiers to flight. His friend Cyriacus persuaded him to leave quietly for Melitene, after he had taken leave of his mother, an old blind widow. At Melitene he was shut in prison, with thirty-⁠three other Christians. Hieron's hand was cut off to the elbow, the others were beaten, and after five days all were condemned to have their heads cut off. The martyrs went to the execution singing Psalm 118. Chrysaphius, a rich man, paid gold for Hieron's head and later raised a church on the place where the heads were cut off.