Iakischolus of Corfu

Holy Martyr Iakischolus of Corfu is one of the seven brigands who were turned to Christ in prison by the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and who died martyrs in Corfu (Kerkyra). The other six are Saturninus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mamius. The calendar commemorates them together with the apostles and with other martyrs: Murinus, Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis.

The Apostle Jason was from Tarsus in Asia Minor and was the first Christian of the city. The Apostle Sosipater was from Achaia. Both became disciples of the Apostle Paul, who called them his kinsmen (Romans 16:21). Jason was made bishop in his native Tarsus, and Sosipater at Iconium. With the preaching of the Gospel they set out westward and in the year 63 reached the island of Kerkyra (Corfu) in the Ionian Sea, near Greece. There they built a church in honour of the first martyr Stephen and baptised many. The governor of the island learned of it and shut them in a prison where seven brigands were held: Saturninus, Iakischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mamius. The apostles turned them to Christ. For the confession of Christ the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a cauldron of melted pitch, sulphur and wax.

The jailer, seeing their martyr's struggle, declared himself a Christian. For this his left hand was cut off, then both feet, and finally his head. The governor ordered the apostles Jason and Sosipater beaten with the whip and shut up again.

Learning how the martyrs suffered for Christ, the governor's daughter, the virgin Kerkyra, declared herself a Christian and gave all her ornaments to the poor. Enraged, the governor tried to persuade her to renounce Christ, but Saint Kerkyra stood firm against both entreaties and threats. Then the furious father devised a terrible punishment for his daughter: he ordered her put in a separate prison and the brigand and profligate Murinus let in to her, to dishonour the bride of Christ. But as the brigand approached the door of the prison, a bear attacked him. Saint Kerkyra heard the noise, drove the beast off in the name of Christ, and then by prayer healed Murinus's wounds. After this she enlightened him with faith in Christ, and Saint Murinus declared himself a Christian and was put to death on the spot.

The governor ordered the prison set on fire, but the holy virgin remained alive. Then, by order of her terrible father, she was hung on a tree, suffocated with acrid smoke and shot with arrows. After her death the governor resolved to put to death all the Christians on the island of Kerkyra. The martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, enlightened by the apostles Jason and Sosipater, were burned.

The islanders, to escape the persecution, crossed to a neighbouring island. The governor set out after them with a band of soldiers, but was swallowed by the waves. His successor ordered the apostles Jason and Sosipater thrown into a cauldron of boiling pitch, but seeing them unharmed, he cried out with tears: God of Jason and Sosipater, have mercy on me. The freed apostles baptised him and gave him the name Sebastian. With his help they built several churches on the island and, living there to deep old age, increased the flock of Christ by their fervent preaching.

They are commemorated on 11 May (new style).