Epimachus of Pelusium

Holy Martyr Epimachus of Pelusium was an Egyptian martyr of the third century, around the year 250. His commemoration is on 31 October in the Orthodox Church, and on 14 Pashons in the Coptic Church.

He was a native of Egypt and led an ascetic life on Mount Pelusium. To support himself he worked as a weaver, together with his two companions, Theodore and Callinicus. At the age of twenty-⁠seven he heard that Polemius, the governor of Egypt, was tormenting Christians in Alexandria. He then went to El-⁠Bakroug, near Demera, destroyed the pagan idols there and declared that he too was a Christian.

Apellianus, the eparch of Alexandria, ordered him to be cruelly tortured on the wheel. A drop of his blood splashed on the eyes of a blind maiden, who saw at once. The maiden and her family accepted Christianity and were in their turn put to death for Christ. Enraged, the governor ordered Epimachus to be beheaded with the sword.

A deaf and mute soldier touched the body and at once heard and spoke. Some Christians from the city of Edku took the body, and after prayers several signs and wonders took place beside it. His kinsfolk from Demera carried it with great honour to El-⁠Barmoun. The governor had the body wrapped in costly shrouds and built a church named after Epimachus, in which it was laid.