Chrysotelus of Babylon

Holy Hieromartyr Chrysotelus of Babylon was a priest and suffered with Bishop Polychronius of Babylon, the priests Parmenius and Helymas, the deacons Luke and Mucus, the Persian princes Abdon and Sennen and the martyrs Olympius and Maximus, in the third century, in the persecution of Emperor Decius (249-251).

Decius, after defeating the Persians and taking their land, found many Christians there and began to persecute them. The bishop of Babylon, Saint Polychronius, the priests Parmenius, Helymas and Chrysotelus and the deacons Luke and Mucus were seized and brought to the emperor, who ordered them to sacrifice to the idols. Saint Polychronius answered him boldly: We offer ourselves as a sacrifice to our Lord Jesus Christ, but to your vain idols, made by human hands, we shall never bow. Decius was angry and cast them into prison. At the second examination Polychronius stood silent, and Decius said to the priests that their chief had been struck dumb. Saint Parmenius answered that the bishop had not been struck dumb, but did not wish to defile his pure mouth and cast pearls before swine. Decius, angry, ordered Parmenius's tongue cut out. Nevertheless Parmenius turned to Polychronius and said clearly: Pray for me, father, I see the Holy Spirit upon you. By Decius's order Bishop Polychronius was struck on the mouth with a stone and, raising his eyes to heaven, gave up his spirit. His body lay before the temple of Saturn. At night two Persian princes, Abdon and Sennen, secret Christians, came and buried him by the city wall.

Soon Decius left for the city of Cordula (Corduene) and ordered the three priests and two deacons to be led after him. At Cordula he again forced them to sacrifice to the idols, but Saint Parmenius, though without a tongue, answered loudly and firmly, for all, with a refusal. Thinking that Parmenius spoke without a tongue by the power of sorcery, Decius ordered the torments increased and the confessors burned with fire. At that time a voice was heard from heaven: Come to Me, you who are lowly of heart. Decius took this voice too for sorcery and ordered their heads cut off. The Persian princes Abdon and Sennen stole their bodies at night and buried them in their village near Cordula. Decius learned of it, seized the princes and had them brought to him; seeing their firmness and their confession, he put them in prison. The saints rejoiced and glorified God for such a lot.

The same day two other Persians, Olympius and Maximus, were brought to Decius as Christians. For their bold confession, after cruel tortures, they were beheaded with the sword. For five days their bodies lay unburied, and on the sixth the Christians buried them in secret, at night, with honour. Returning to Rome, Decius took Abdon and Sennen with him in chains. At Rome, calling a pagan priest, he ordered them to sacrifice to the gods, promising freedom and honours. The saints answered: We offer as a sacrifice only ourselves to our God Jesus Christ, and to your gods you may offer sacrifice yourself. Decius condemned them to be eaten by beasts. Two lions, then four bears, let loose upon them, did not touch them and lay down at their feet. Then Abdon and Sennen were cut down with swords. Their bodies lay for three days before the idol, to terrify Christians. At night a secret Christian named Quirinus took them and buried them in his house. Abdon and Sennen suffered in the year 251, and their relics are kept in the church of Saint Mark in Rome.

The martyrs are commemorated on 12 August (new style).