Longinus of Melitene

Holy Martyr Longinus of Melitene is commemorated together with Holy Martyr Hieron and the others who suffered with him at Melitene. The Azbyka page holds the life of Hieron, in which Longinus is not named; he is therefore one of the unnamed companions, and nothing particular is said of him.

Hieron was born in Tyana in Cappadocia, of a devout mother, Stratonice, in the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. The two had sent Agricolaus and Lysias to Armenia and Cappadocia to put to death the Christians who would not bow to idols and to choose strong men for the army. Lysias heard of Hieron, a sturdy man known for his courage. The soldiers sent to take him found him in the field. Hieron would not serve beside idolaters and put them to flight, and then withdrew into a cave with eighteen Christians. A friend of his, Cyriacus, gently persuaded him to come out. Hieron took leave of his mother, an old blind widow, and set out for Melitene with his kinsmen Victor, Matronianus and Antonius.

During the night someone in white garments appeared to him and told him that he was on the right way and would soon receive honour and glory from the heavenly King. At Melitene he was imprisoned with thirty-⁠three other Christians, whom he strengthened not to sacrifice to idols but to offer a sacrifice of praise to God. Tried by Lysias, all confessed that they worshipped the Creator. Lysias ordered Hieron's hand cut off to the elbow, and the others he beat without mercy. Victor, weakened by the beatings, bought his name out of the list with a bribe, left the prison and soon died, losing both his life and the crown.

On the fifth day Lysias judged them again and, unable to turn them aside by flattery or threats, condemned them to the sword. As they went to the place of execution, they sang the psalm "Blessed are the undefiled in the way." They knelt, prayed "Lord Jesus Christ, receive our souls," and their heads were cut off. Hieron's head was ransomed with gold by a rich man, Chrysaphius, and his hand was carried by Antonius and Matronianus to his mother. Chrysaphius later built a church on the place of the execution.

The martyrs of Melitene are commemorated on 20 November, in the new style, and the page lists their service in the Menaion under 7 November.