John of Syracuse

Holy Martyr John of Syracuse is commemorated together with the holy martyrs Andrew and John's children, Peter and Antoninus, who suffered in the ninth century, in the time of the cruel Ibrahim, ruler of Africa. After the capture and destruction of the city of Syracuse in Sicily, Ibrahim took Saint John and his two children, Peter and Antoninus, prisoner and brought them to Africa, where he made the youths learn the Arabic language and the sciences. When the youths grew up, Ibrahim came to love them so much for their wisdom and virtuous life that he called Antoninus his relative and made Peter chief steward. But, learning that the youths secretly confessed faith in Christ, Ibrahim was filled with rage and ordered them put in iron stocks and beaten with knotty staves.

After a long beating, Saint Antoninus was put on a donkey and, bound with straps, was led through the city, beaten and abused. The martyr bore all the mockery and gave thanks to God. Saint Peter, after a cruel beating with staves, was thrown into prison. The father of the holy martyrs, John, was ordered brought. The cruel Ibrahim seized him by the neck with his left hand and with the right thrust a knife into his throat. The father's body was thrown beside the bodies of his children. By order of Ibrahim a great fire was made, into which the bodies of the holy martyrs were thrown. The old man Andrew the tormentor kept long hungry, then pierced him with a spear in the chest. When the martyr began to give thanks praying to God, Ibrahim pierced him a second time. The righteous man, bleeding, had his head cut off by the executioners with a sword.

The Church commemorates these martyrs on 6 October, in the new style.