Macarius of Anazarbus

Holy Martyr Macarius of Anazarbus was a notable citizen who believed in Christ after the miracles of the Holy Martyr Theodulia and died with her, in the time of Diocletian and Maximian. The Azbyka page holds the life of Theodulia and of the martyrs Helladius, Macarius and Evagrius.

Theodulia

The governor Pelagius was very cruel and sent his servants to seize Christians throughout the region. Theodulia, brought to trial, confessed that she was a Christian and worshipped one God, not a stone. The torments did her no harm. Taken to the temple of Hadrian, their mightiest god, she breathed on the idol, which fell to pieces; Pelagius, terrified, begged her to raise it and made promises, and at her prayer the idol stood whole again, but the governor did not keep his word and tormented her more cruelly.

Helladius, Macarius and Evagrius

The jailer Helladius asked for her for himself, to force her to sacrifice, but his tortures healed her, and she urged him to believe; Helladius confessed Christ before the governor and received the crown of martyrdom: he was beheaded and his body thrown into the sea. Theodulia was then thrown into a furnace and stretched on a red-⁠hot pan, doused with pitch, wax and oil, but the pan burst, the fire burned many, among them Pelagius, who died horribly, and she remained unharmed. Many believed in Christ, among them the honoured citizens Macarius and Evagrius. The pagans then lit the furnace and threw into it Theodulia, Macarius, Evagrius and many others; all died with prayer on their lips.

They are commemorated on 18 February, in the new style.