Hesychius of Dyrrhachium

Holy Martyr Hesychius of Dyrrhachium was one of seven Italian martyrs killed in the second century, in the time of the Emperor Trajan, in the city of Dyrrhachium. The Church commemorates him on 20 July (new style), together with Peregrinus, Lucian, Pompeius, Papias, Saturninus and Hermes.

The seven were natives of Italy and suffered for Christ in Dyrrhachium, a city on the shore of the Adriatic Sea. Being present at the tortures of Bishop Astius, crucified by the Romans, they openly glorified the courage and firmness of the holy confessor, for which they were seized and drowned in the sea, as confessors of Christ. Their bodies, brought to the shore by the waves, were hidden there in the sand by Christians. After ninety years the martyrs appeared to the bishop of Alexandria, commanding him to bury their bodies and raise a church over them.