Isidore of Chios

The Holy Martyr Isidore of Chios was an officer of Egyptian descent in the Roman fleet, killed on the island of Chios in the year 251, in the persecution of the emperor Decius. His feast is on 14 May.

His life has come down in several versions, mainly with devotional aims. He was born at Alexandria, into a pagan and well-⁠off family, and was enrolled in the imperial army, in the Roman fleet, under the command of Numerius. Being on the island of Chios, he confessed himself a Christian before the commander, in some versions denounced by a centurion. Because he would not renounce and worship the gods he was cruelly tortured; according to the Slavic account his tongue was cut out, but the saint went on speaking clearly and glorifying Christ, and the commander fell to the ground in fear and was struck dumb. Unable to speak, he asked for paper and wrote the order that Isidore, who does not obey the emperor's orders, be put to the sword. According to the Greek account, his father, summoned to Chios to turn his son from Christianity and failing, cursed him and asked the commander to hasten the sentence; Numerius tied him to a horse that dragged him over stones, then ordered him beheaded, and the body was thrown into a cistern. According to another version he died by his own father's hand. The year of death is 251.

According to tradition, his friends Ammonius and Myrope, themselves destined for martyrdom, took out the body and buried it properly, against orders. Myrope was tried for this, confessed Christ, was beaten and imprisoned; at night, in prayer, a light shone in the prison, Isidore appeared surrounded by angels and she gave her soul to the Lord. She was buried beside Isidore, and at their tomb healings took place. It is said that then all the trees on the south side of the island wept for Isidore, and from this comes the mastic still collected only on Chios. In the fifth century Saint Marcian built there a chapel, then a church, of which ruins survive in Chios town, and a chapel in his honour was set up in the church of Saint Irene in Constantinople.

His veneration spread through the Mediterranean, and he became protector of sailors. According to the Greek tradition the relics stayed at Chios until the twelfth century, then were taken to Constantinople; according to the Western tradition, in 1125, under Doge Domenico Michiel, they were brought by the Venetians from Chios to Venice, where they are kept in a chapel of the basilica of San Marco. He is one of the patron saints of Venice and of the island of Chios.