Constantine of Amorium

Holy Martyr Constantine of Amorium (Phrygia) was one of the forty-⁠two martyrs of Amorium, Christian soldiers. The Azbyka page mentions him in the account of the martyrs of Amorium: Constantine, Aetios, Theophilos, Theodore, Melissenos, Callistos, Basoes and the others with them.

During the war between the Greek emperor Theophilus (829-842) and the Saracens, the latter succeeded in besieging the city of Amorium in Galatia. Through the treachery of the commander Vadits, Amorium fell, and forty-⁠two of its defenders, soldiers, were taken captive and sent to Syria. For seven years of long captivity the prisoners were urged in vain to abandon the Christian faith and accept Islam. They stubbornly rejected all flattering offers and bravely endured terrible threats. After many tortures, having failed to break the spirit of the Christian soldiers, they were sentenced to death. Even just before the execution, attempts were made to shake the saints' firmness. To the soldier Theodore they said: "We know that you left holy orders to become a soldier and shed blood; you cannot hope in Christ, acknowledge Muhammad". The martyr answered with confidence: "I have not denied Christ, and for having left holy orders I must shed my blood".

The condemned approached the executioners calmly and without fear. They were beheaded, and their bodies were thrown into the river Euphrates. In the service the holy sufferers are praised: "all-⁠blessed" Theodore, "unconquered" Callistus, "valiant" Constantine, "wonderful" Theophilus and "most strong" Basoes. The traitor Vadits did not escape a shameful fate: the enemies knew that a traitor could not be trusted, and killed him.

Saint Constantine is commemorated on 19 March, in the new style. The passion of the forty-⁠two martyrs is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.