Hilary of Kalipta

Holy Martyr Hilary of Kalipta suffered in the persecution under Emperor Trajan (98-117), together with his uncle, Holy Martyr Proclus. Both were from the settlement of Kalipta, near Ancyra.

The first to be taken into custody was Saint Proclus. Brought before the governor Maximus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor resolved to force him to obey the emperor and to sacrifice to the pagan gods. During the tortures the martyr foretold to Maximus that soon he too would be forced to confess Christ as the true God. The martyr was made to run after the governor's chariot, which was going to the settlement of Kalipt. Exhausted on the road, Saint Proclus prayed to the Lord to stop the chariot. By God's power the chariot stopped and no effort could move it from the spot. The official sitting in it became as if turned to stone and remained motionless until, at the martyr's demand, he wrote with his own hand a charter with a confession of Christ; only after that could the chariot go on.

The shamed pagan took cruel revenge on Saint Proclus: after many torments he ordered him taken outside the city, tied to a post and shot with bows. The soldiers who led him to death urged him to submit and so keep his life, but the saint told them to do what they were commanded. On the way to the place of killing they were met by Saint Proclus's nephew Hilary, who with tears embraced his martyr uncle and confessed himself a Christian too. The soldiers detained him and threw him into prison. Holy Martyr Proclus, under the hail of arrows, prayed for his tormentors and with prayer gave his soul to God.

Saint Hilary, brought before the judge, confessed himself a Christian with the same fearlessness as Saint Proclus and after tortures was condemned to death. The martyr's hands were bound and he was dragged by the feet through the city, wounded and bloodied, then his head was cut off, three days after the death of his uncle, Holy Martyr Proclus. The Christians buried them together in one grave.

They are commemorated on 25 July (new style).