John of Galatia

Holy Martyr John of Galatia was a tribune of the regiment of Saint Meletius Stratelates and suffered together with him, in the time of the emperor Antoninus Heliogabalus (218 to 222). The Azbyka page commemorates him in the company of the martyrs Meletius Stratelates, Stephen, John, Serapion the Egyptian, Callinicus the sorcerer, Theodore and Faustus, and with them 1218 soldiers with their wives and children.

Saint Meletius was a commander in the region of Galatia, a Christian, and prayed earnestly that the Lord would put an end to pagan error. Frightened by his prayer, the demons that dwelt in the pagan temples entered into dogs, which, howling, spread terror among the inhabitants. Meletius, together with his soldiers, destroyed the rabid dogs, tore down the temples and was seized and brought to trial before the governor Maximian. Because he refused to sacrifice to the idols, he was tortured and died confessing his faith in Christ. The tribunes of his regiment, the holy martyrs Stephen and John, were beheaded for confessing Christ as the true God.

The other soldiers of the regiment, who likewise declared themselves Christians, were put to the sword together with their wives and children; 1218 people perished in torments, and according to some sources 11,000 (around the year 218). The holy Theodore and Faustus, with many others, were burned. Of the wives and children martyred, the names are known of the martyrs Marciana, Susanna and Palladia and of the infants Cyriacus and Christian. The names of twelve tribunes are also known: Faustus, Fistus, Marcellus, Theodore, Meletius, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus, Mercurius and Didymus. The holy martyr Serapion, born in Egypt, came to the region of Galatia and was witness to the suffering of Meletius and his soldiers. Seeing the courage with which those who believe in Christ die for Him, he too believed and was imprisoned. In prison the angel of the Lord came to him and ordained him bishop.

The Church commemorates the holy martyrs on 6 June, in the new style.