Maximian of Melitene

Holy Martyr Maximian of Melitene is commemorated together with the Holy Martyr Hieron and the others who suffered with him at Melitene. The life on the Azbyka page tells of Hieron, and Maximian is not named in it; he is one of those companions, and the page says nothing particular about him.

Hieron, born at Tyana in Cappadocia, of a devout mother, in the time of Diocletian and Maximian, was sought by the governor Lysias for his strength, to be enrolled in the army. Refusing to serve alongside idolaters, he drove off the soldiers sent to take him, withdrew to a cave with eighteen Christians and, at a friend's counsel, came out of his own will and set out for Melitene, after taking leave of his mother, an old blind widow. On the road a man in white garments appeared to him and announced that he would soon receive honour from the heavenly King. At Melitene he was imprisoned with thirty-⁠three other Christians, whom he urged not to sacrifice to idols. Lysias ordered his hand cut off, and the others he beat; one of the companions, Victor, bought his name out of the list in secret and soon died.

On the fifth day Lysias, unable to turn the martyrs aside, condemned them to the sword. On the way they sang the psalm "Blessed are the undefiled in the way," and, coming to the place of execution, they prayed on bended knees: "Lord Jesus Christ, receive our souls." Hieron's head was ransomed with gold by the rich Chrysaphius, who afterwards raised a church at the place of the killing, and his hand was carried to his mother, Stratonice, by his kinsmen Antonius and Matronianus.

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