Polyaenus of Prusa

Holy Hieromartyr Polyaenus of Prusa (Bithynia) was a priest and suffered around the year 100, together with Bishop Patricius of Prusa and the priests Acacius and Menander.

St Patricius was bishop of the city of Prusa in Bithynia, in Asia Minor, and preached the teaching of Christ openly and boldly, rebuking the errors of the pagans. For this he was taken with the three priests, Acacius, Menander and Polyaenus, and brought to trial before the governor of the city, Julius. Julius was then going to the hot springs to be healed, and he ordered the bishop and the priests, bound in iron chains, to follow him. After bathing in the warm waters he offered sacrifice to his gods and called Patricius and the other prisoners, commanding them to sacrifice and threatening them with torments.

St Patricius answered that he was a Christian and worshipped the one true God, Jesus Christ, who made heaven and earth and these hot springs for the benefit of all men. On the order of Julius he was thrown into a boiling spring; the martyr prayed with firm faith and remained unharmed. Julius, in his helpless rage, ordered the heads of the holy hierarch and of the three priests cut off.

St Polyaenus is commemorated on 1 June, in the new style.