Isavrus

Holy Martyr Isavrus the Deacon was from Athens and died beheaded at Apollonia in Illyria (today Albania), with five companions, in the time of the emperor Numerian (283-284). He is commemorated on 17 June.

Isavrus and two of the others were Athenians, Christians after the teaching that the Apostle Paul had preached to the Athenians. Leaving his homeland for a cave at Apollonia, he found Innocent, Felix, Peregrinus and Hermias, whom he taught not to follow worldly and passing things, and they confirmed the word by deed, fleeing the gatherings of their relatives. They were denounced by relatives to the eparch Tripontius, who, unable to make them deny Christ, ordered them tortured. Isavrus, the deacon of Christ, and the others were handed over to Apollonius, the eparch's son, who tormented them with fire and water. Miraculously delivered from these torments, they brought many to faith in Christ, among them the brothers Rufus and Rogin, among the foremost of the city. At last, condemned to death, they were beheaded.