Fusik of Seleucia

Holy Martyr Fusik of Seleucia was a Persian official, a secret Christian, who suffered in the year 344 in the persecution begun by the king of Persia Shapur II (310-381), together with the holy hieromartyr Simeon, bishop of Seleucia-⁠Ctesiphon.

Simeon had been slandered as keeping ties with the Greek state and working against the Persian king. In 344 the king issued a decree by which Christians were made to pay a heavy tax. When some refused to pay it, which was presented as rebellion, the king began a harsh persecution. Saint Simeon was brought to trial in iron chains, together with two martyr priests, Abdelas and Ananias. The bishop did not even bow before the king, and when asked why he had not given him due honour, he said that once he had bowed to his rank, but now, when he was brought to renounce his God, it was not fitting to bow. The king urged him to worship the sun, threatening otherwise to destroy Christianity in the country, but neither urging nor threats moved him, and he was led to prison.

On the way the eunuch Usthazanes, once the king's tutor, saw him and bowed, but the bishop turned away and rebuked him for bowing to the sun, a Christian though he was, out of fear of the king. The eunuch repented with all his heart, changed his costly clothes for rough ones and wept bitterly at the palace door. The king learned of the sorrow of his beloved teacher, and the latter told him openly that he repented of his denial and would no longer worship the sun, but only the One true God. He was condemned to death, and his only request was that heralds proclaim in the whole city that he died not for an offence against the king, but as a Christian. The king granted his request.

Learning of it, Saint Simeon gave thanks to the Lord with tears. Summoned a second time to the king, he again refused to bow to the pagan gods and confessed faith in Christ. The king, angered, ordered all the Christians in the prison to be beheaded with the sword before the bishop's eyes. They went fearlessly to death, blessed by the bishop, and themselves bowed their heads under the sword. So was beheaded Simeon's companion, the priest Abdelas. When the turn came to the priest Ananias, he trembled. Then one of the officials, Saint Fusik, a secret Christian, feared that Ananias would renounce Christ and cried out loudly: Do not be afraid, old man, close your eyes and you will see at once the divine Light of our Lord Jesus Christ. By this cry he gave himself away. The king ordered his tongue torn out and his skin flayed. With Fusik his daughter, the holy martyr Askitrea, was also tortured. Last of all Saint Simeon came to the executioner and, with prayer, bowed his head on the block (13 April 344). The executions went on all through Easter week, until 23 April. The eunuch Azat, an official close to the king, also died a martyr. The sources state that a thousand martyrs suffered, then a hundred more and another hundred and fifty. Saint Fusik is commemorated on 30 April.