Macrobius and Gordian

The Holy Martyrs Macrobius and Gordian of Tomis, the city now called Constanța, suffered together with a few other Christians at the beginning of the fourth century, in the time of the emperor Licinius.

Macrobius was from Paphlagonia and Gordian from Cappadocia. Both served at the emperor's court and enjoyed his favour, but when it became known that they were Christians they were sent into exile in Scythia, at Tomis. There they met Zoticus, Lucian and Elias, courageous confessors of Christ.

The sources do not agree entirely on the order and manner of the martyrdom. According to the Greek Synaxarion, Zoticus, Lucian and Elias were tried at Tomis and beheaded because they would not deny the faith, while the two exiles were forced to be present. Later Macrobius and Gordian were also condemned and died, according to one tradition, by fire. Saint Valerian, the last commemorated on this day, died weeping at the graves of his brothers in the faith. Other sources say that Gordian and Macrobius suffered first, and that Elias, Zoticus, Lucian and Valerian were afterwards tortured and put to the sword at Tomis. The Romanian site Doxologia also counts Seleucus among them.

The Church commemorates these holy martyrs of Dobruja on 13 September, according to the new calendar.