Elpidephorus of Persia

Holy Martyr Elpidephorus of Persia was a great official of the Persian king Shapur II (310-381) and suffered for the faith in Christ together with Acindynus, Pegasius, Anempodistus and Aphthonius.

Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus, courtiers of the king, were secret Christians. When the king began the persecution, envious men denounced them. Called to trial, they boldly confessed faith in the Holy Trinity. The king ordered them beaten with whips. Tired executioners were replaced twice, and the martyrs uttered neither cry nor groan. The king himself could not bear the strain and fainted; all thought him dead, but the saints cried to God and he came to himself.

Awakening, Shapur accused them of sorcery and ordered them hung over a fire to be suffocated by smoke. By the prayers of the saints the fire went out, and the ropes with which they were bound came apart. When the king asked them how this had happened, the martyrs spoke to him of Christ, who works such wonders.

Blinded by rage, the king began to blaspheme the Name of the Lord. Then the saints said: May your mouth be mute, and the king fell dumb. Beside himself with fear and fury, he tried to order by signs that the martyrs be taken to prison, but those around him could not understand him, and he began to thrash about: he tore off his mantle, pulled out his hair, struck his face.

Saint Acindynus pitied him and in the Name of the Lord released him from dumbness. But this time too the king ascribed everything to sorcery and went on tormenting the saints. They were laid on an iron grid and a fire was lit under it. The saints prayed, and suddenly rain fell and put out the fire. Seeing the wonders worked by the prayers of the martyrs, many believed in Christ and confessed their faith; the saints glorified God and urged those who had believed to receive baptism by the rain sent down on them.

One of the executioners, Aphthonius, asked the martyrs' forgiveness before all for the suffering he had caused and went bravely to death for Christ. The official Elpidephorus and the king's mother also confessed faith in the one true God. The king, seeing that the number of Christians was growing and that the torments of Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus strengthened the faith, announced to the people that Acindynus, Pegasius, Anempodistus and Elpidephorus would be beheaded, but that their bodies could be taken by Christians for burial.

When the martyrs were led beyond the city walls to the place of execution, a huge crowd accompanied them, glorifying Christ. At the king's command the soldiers killed all the Christians who walked in the procession, up to seven thousand. With the others Elpidephorus was killed. Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were burned the next day together with the king's mother. Christians who came secretly at night to the place where they were burned found the bodies unharmed by fire and buried them with honour.

The Synaxarion commemorates them all on 15 November (new style).