Paul of Lampsacus

Holy Martyr Paul of Lampsacus is commemorated on 31 May with the martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew and the martyr Christina, who suffered in the time of the emperor Decius (249-251). The first to suffer was the young Peter, in the city of Lampsacus on the Hellespont. Brought before the governor Optimus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ and, forced to bow to the idol of the goddess Venus, he refused, saying in the hearing of all that a Christian will not bow to the idol of a profligate woman. After cruel torments, borne with thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, he was beheaded.

At the same time Dionysius, Nicomachus and two soldiers brought from Mesopotamia, as well as Andrew and Paul, were tried. All confessed their faith and refused to sacrifice to idols, for which they were tortured. To the grief of the Christians, Nicomachus did not hold out, denied the Lord and sacrificed in the temple, but was at once seized by an evil spirit and died in terrible torments. Christina, a girl of sixteen who stood in the crowd, cried out: Wretched and lost man, for one hour you have won for yourself eternal and unspeakable torment. The governor heard, ordered her seized and, learning that she too was a Christian, gave her over to profligates. An angel came to the house where she was taken; the young men, frightened, begged her with tears to forgive them and pray for them.

The next day Dionysius, Andrew and Paul stood again before the governor and were given to the pagan crowd to be torn apart. They were tied by the feet, dragged to the place of execution and killed with stones. During the execution Christina ran up to die together with the martyrs, but at the governor's command she was beheaded.

Saint Paul is commemorated on 31 May, in the new style.