Luke of Babylon

Holy Hieromartyr Luke of Babylon was a deacon and suffered in the year 251, under Decius, together with Bishop Polychronius, the presbyters Parmenius, Elymas and Chrysotelus, the deacon Mucus and the martyrs Abdon, Sennis, Olympius and Maximus. Conquering the land of the Persians, Decius found many Christians there and began to persecute them.

The bishop and the clergy

Bishop Polychronius, the three presbyters and the two deacons refused to sacrifice to idols, saying that they offered themselves as a sacrifice to Christ. After a time in prison, at the second questioning Polychronius was silent, and Parmenius, who spoke in his place, had his tongue cut out; nevertheless he said clearly that he saw the Holy Spirit upon the bishop. Polychronius was struck on the mouth with a stone and died, and two Persian princes who were secret Christians, Abdon and Sennis, buried his body by the city wall. At Cordula Decius ordered the other clerics burned; a voice from heaven said "Come to Me, you who are meek of heart", and the emperor, taking the voice for sorcery, ordered their heads cut off. Abdon and Sennis buried them secretly and were arrested in turn.

Abdon, Sennis and the others

Olympius and Maximus, two other Persians, were brought as Christians the same day and beheaded after torments. Abdon and Sennis were taken in chains to Rome, where they refused to sacrifice to the gods. Two lions and four bears let loose on them lay down at their feet, and they were put to the sword in 251. Their bodies lay three days before the idol, then a Christian, Quirinus, buried them in his house. Their relics are kept in Rome, in the church of Saint Mark.

They are all commemorated on 12 August, in the new style.