Muko of Babylon

Holy Hieromartyr Muko of Babylon, of Cordula, a deacon, suffered in the third century, in the time of the persecution of the emperor Decius (249-251), together with Bishop Polychronius of Babylon, the presbyters Parmenius, Elimas and Chrysotelus, the deacon Luke and the martyrs Abdon, Sennis, Olympius and Maximus. Decius, after defeating the Persians and taking possession of their land, found there many Christians and began to persecute them. The bishop of Babylon, Saint Polychronius, his presbyters Parmenius, Elimas, Chrysotelus and the two deacons, Luke and Muko, were seized and brought to the emperor. He commanded them to sacrifice to idols. But Saint Polychronius boldly answered, "We offer ourselves in sacrifice to our Lord Jesus Christ, but to your worthless idols, made by human hands, we shall never bow." For these words the enraged Decius threw the confessors into prison. At the second interrogation Saint Polychronius stood silent. Then Decius said to the presbyters, "Your chief has been struck dumb." Saint Parmenius answered, "The holy bishop is not dumb, but does not wish to defile his pure mouth and 'cast pearls before swine'" (Matthew 7:6). Decius, furious, ordered the tongue of Saint Parmenius cut out. Nevertheless Parmenius, turning to Saint Polychronius, said clearly, "Pray for me, Father, I see the Holy Spirit upon you." At Decius's command the holy bishop Polychronius was struck on the lips with a stone, and he, raising his eyes to heaven, gave up his spirit. His body remained before the temple of Saturn. At night two Persian princes, Abdon and Sennis, secret Christians, came and buried the body of the holy martyr near the city wall.

Soon Decius left for the city of Cordula (Corduene) and ordered the three presbyters and two deacons to be brought after him. At Cordula he again forced the martyrs to sacrifice to idols, but Saint Parmenius, despite his cut-⁠out tongue, answered loudly and firmly for all with refusal. Thinking that Parmenius spoke without a tongue by the power of sorcery, Decius ordered the torments increased and the confessors burned with fire. Then a voice was heard from heaven: "Come to Me, you who are meek in heart." Decius reckoned this voice too the work of sorcery and ordered the martyrs' heads cut off. The Persian princes Abdon and Sennis stole the bodies of the martyrs by night and buried them in their village near Cordula. Decius was informed, and the princes were seized and brought to the emperor. Seeing their firmness and manly confession, he ordered them shut in prison. The saints rejoiced and glorified God for such a lot.

The same day two other Persians, Olympius and Maximus, were brought to Decius as Christians. For their bold confession of faith in Christ, after cruel torments, the holy martyrs were put to the sword. Five days their bodies lay unburied, and on the sixth day Christians buried them secretly, by night, with honour. On the return to Rome, Decius took with him Abdon and Sennis in chains. At Rome he summoned a pagan priest and ordered the saints to sacrifice to the gods, promising freedom and honour. The holy martyrs answered, "We offer in sacrifice only ourselves to our God Jesus Christ; to your gods offer sacrifice yourself." Then Decius condemned them to be eaten by beasts. Two lions, then four bears, let loose on them, did not touch the holy martyrs and lay down at their feet. Then Abdon and Sennis were beheaded with swords. Their bodies lay three days before the idol, to frighten the Christians. At night a secret Christian named Cyrinus took the bodies of the martyrs and buried them in his house. The holy martyrs Abdon and Sennis suffered in the year 251. Their relics are kept in the church of Saint Mark in Rome. Muko is commemorated on 12 August, in the new style.