Epolonius of Antioch

Holy Martyr Epolonius of Antioch was one of the three children, Urban, Prilidian and Epolonius, who suffered around the year 251, in the time of the Emperor Decius (249-251), together with their mother Christodula and the bishop of Antioch, the Holy Hieromartyr Babylas.

While he was in Antioch, the emperor held a great feast in honour of the pagan gods. At the same time Babylas, a holy and God-⁠fearing bishop, was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the church, praying for his flock and teaching it to bear all trials courageously for faith in Christ. After the idolatrous service, Decius, wishing to see the celebration of the Holy Mysteries, decided to enter the church and defile the holy place by his coming.

The bishop, learning of it, would not let the lawless man enter the church of God, went out to meet him and stopped him on the threshold of the church. When the emperor tried to come nearer, Babylas pushed him back with his hand, so that he had to give up. He wanted to take revenge at once, but, seeing the great crowd of Christians gathered, he feared an uprising.

The next day, in anger, the emperor ordered the Christian church to be set on fire and the bishop brought. Asked how he could offend the imperial dignity and not let him into the church, the saint answered: Whoever rises against God and wishes to offend His holy things not only does not deserve honour but becomes an enemy of the Lord. The emperor demanded that he bow to the idols to redeem his fault or be put to death, but, seeing that the martyr remained firm, he ordered the commander Victorinus to put heavy chains on him and lead him in disgrace through the city.

The martyr answered: O emperor, for me these chains are as honourable as your royal crown is for you, and suffering for Christ is as sweet to me as your royal power to you; death for the immortal King is as desirable to me as your life to you.

At the trial, with Bishop Babylas were three young brothers, who did not leave him even in the hardest moments. Seeing them, the emperor asked: Whose children are these? The saint answered: They are my spiritual sons; I begot them anew by the good news, nourished them with teaching, raised them with guidance, and now, in a small body, great men and perfect Christians stand before you.

Try and you will see. The emperor tried every means to entice the youths and their mother Christodula to renounce Christ, in vain. Then in rage he ordered wounds to be inflicted on each according to the number of his years: twelve wounds on the first, ten on another, seven on the third. Releasing the mother and the children, the tormentor summoned the bishop again, wishing to deceive him by saying that his children had renounced Christ, but the lie was exposed.

Then in fury he ordered all the martyrs hung on a tree and burned with fire. Seeing the steadfastness and courage of the saints, the emperor finally condemned them to death by beheading, around the year 251.

The Synaxarion commemorates Babylas, Urban, Prilidian, Epolonius and Christodula on 17 September (new style).