Cronides of Illyria

Holy Martyr Cronides of Illyria was the head of the prisons of Illyria, who believed in Christ during the sufferings of Saint Philetus and Saint Lydia. The Azbyka page mentions him in the account of the martyrs Philetus, Lydia and those with them.

Philetus was a high official at the court of the emperor Hadrian (117-138), persecutor of Christians. For openly confessing faith in Christ the Saviour, Philetus, with his wife, Saint Lydia, and sons Macedon and Theoprepius, stood trial. By order of Hadrian, Philetus and his family were sent to Illyria to the commander Amphilochius, that he might subject them to torment. He ordered them hung from a tree and their bodies scraped with knives. Then the martyrs were put in prison together with the head of the prisons, Cronides, who had believed. At night an angel appeared to them and strengthened them for suffering. The next day the martyrs were plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil, but the oil cooled at once and the saints remained unharmed. The commander Amphilochius was so amazed at the miracle that he believed in Christ and himself entered the boiling oil, praying: "Lord Jesus Christ, help me", and remained alive. The same torment was repeated when the emperor Hadrian came to Illyria. The martyrs were thrown again and again into boiling oil and remained alive by the power of God.

The emperor, put to shame, returned to Rome, and the holy martyrs thanked and glorified God and in prayer gave Him their holy souls (around 117-138).

Saint Cronides is commemorated on 5 April, in the new style. The passion of Philetus and Lydia is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.