Hyacinthus of Amastris

Holy Martyr Hyacinthus of Amastris was born into a devout Christian family of Amastris (today Amasra) in Pontus, the son of Theoclitus and Theonilla, at a time when the city had Heraclides as its bishop. An angel revealed his name. As a child of three he asked God to raise a dead infant, and the Lord heard his childish prayer, and the dead one rose. The two boys grew up together and lived an ascetic life.

Once Hyacinthus saw pagans worshipping a fruit tree and, moved by holy zeal, cut it down. For this he was seized and taken before the governor Castrensius, who beat him mercilessly and pulled out his teeth. They then dragged him with ropes outside the city and wounded him with sharp reeds, after which they threw him into prison, where he gave up his soul to God.

He is commemorated on 18 July (new style).