Heliodorus

Holy Martyr Heliodorus preached the Gospel in the Pamphylian city of Magydos, in the time of the Emperor Aurelian (270-275), and suffered around the year 273. He is commemorated on 19 November by the old calendar.

During the persecution he was seized and brought to trial. The governor Aetius urged him to deny Christ and sacrifice to idols; Heliodorus refused and was hung on the instrument of torture, his body scraped with iron claws and burned with torches. In his torments he cried out: "Lord Jesus Christ, help me," and a voice was heard from heaven: "Do not fear, I am with you." The voice was also heard by the executioners, who saw four angels preventing them from tormenting him further, and this made them believe in Christ. The governor ordered them thrown into the sea, and Heliodorus put into a red-⁠hot bronze bull.

Given three days to think about worshipping idols, the martyr went secretly to the pagan temple called the Pantheon and, after his prayer, there was an earthquake in which all the idols fell and shattered. Brought to trial again, he was hung up and three red-⁠hot nails were driven into his head, but at his prayer the pain passed. Taken in chains to the ruler of the city of Attalia, he was laid, with hands and feet stretched on four stakes, on a red-⁠hot pan. From the pan he called those present to come to him, telling them the fire would not harm them; many entered the heated pan unburned, and all believed in Christ. Brought back to Magydos, his tongue was cut out, he was hung up and beaten for two hours with rods, and then he was beheaded.