Lycarion

Holy Venerable Martyr Lycarion is commemorated on 8 February (new style) in the Greek synaxarion, together with the holy martyrs Martha and Mary.

Martha and Mary were sisters and were found guilty by the pagans because they had devoted their lives to spreading the Christian faith among women. The prefect pretended to take pity on them at their trial and begged them to spare their youth. They answered that all will lose their life, but woe to the one who loses his soul. The prefect then ordered them crucified, and the pagans present marvelled at their youthful courage. In the end he ordered the executioners to behead them.

In some synaxaria Lycarion is also commemorated on the same day, and is said to have been a boy who lived as a monk together with the sisters Mary and Martha. He was crucified with them and then beheaded. A verse says that Lycarion went silently to the sword, like a lamb before its shearer. He may be the same as the Lycarion commemorated on 7 June.