Diodorus of Corinth

Holy Martyr Diodorus of Corinth was among the disciples of the Holy Martyr Quadratus, who suffered in Corinth in the time of Emperor Decius (249-251), and threw himself into the fire prepared for him. He is commemorated on 13 February and on 23 March, in the company of Quadratus, of Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens, Dionysius, Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, Papias, Leonides and of the martyrs Chariessa, Nunechia, Basilissa, Nike, Galla, Galina, Theodora and others.

In the time of a persecution of the third century, a pious woman, Rufina, fled from Corinth to the mountains, escaping the persecutors. There she bore a son, Quadratus, and died soon after the birth. By the providence of God the infant remained alive and was fed in a wondrous way: a cloud settled over him that fed him with sweet dew. The childhood and youth of Saint Quadratus passed in the desert. Grown to manhood, he once met Christians, who enlightened him with the light of the true faith. Quadratus learned letters, then the science of medicine, in which he made great progress. But most of all he loved the stillness of the desert and spent most of his time in the mountains, in prayer and meditation on God. Many years passed. To him in the desert came often his friends and followers, to hear his teaching. Among them were Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens and many others.

By order of Decius, the persecutor of Christians, the commander Jason arrived in Corinth. Saint Quadratus was seized with his friends and thrown into prison. At the interrogations Jason addressed himself mostly to Quadratus, as the eldest. The saint bravely defended his faith in Christ the Saviour. Then they began to torment him. Saint Quadratus, despite inhuman sufferings, found strength in himself to support the others, urging them not to fear and to stand firm for the faith. Failing to obtain a renunciation from anyone, Jason ordered the martyrs thrown to the beasts. But the beasts did not touch them. The saints were tied by the feet to chariots and dragged through the city, and many in the crowd threw stones at them. In the end the martyrs were sentenced to have their heads cut off with the sword. At the place of execution the saints asked for a little time for prayer, then, one after another, approached the executioner, bowing their heads before the raised sword. The other disciples of Saint Quadratus also suffered for Christ: the other Dionysius was stabbed with a knife; Victorinus, Victor and Nicephorus were crushed alive in a huge stone mortar; Claudius had his hands and feet cut off; Diodorus threw himself into the pyre prepared for him; Serapion was beheaded; Papias and Leonides were drowned in the sea. Imitating the men, many holy women also went willingly to torments for Christ.