Polyeuctus of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Holy Martyr Polyeuctus of Caesarea in Cappadocia came from Caesarea of Cappadocia, in Asia Minor, where he preached Christ with great fruit, turning many unbelievers from idols to the Christian faith. Because of his preaching he was seized and thrown into prison.

After unceasing exhortations to renounce Christ, he was torn over his whole body with iron claws, his jaw was broken, and he was cast into a red-⁠hot furnace. He suffered at the beginning of the fourth century.

At the same time, in Mauritania, the deacon Timothy was preaching the faith of Christ with fruit, and was subjected to heavy torments: thrown into prison, kept in hunger and thirst, then brought out to trial and vainly urged to sacrifice to the idols, he climbed, praying, onto the pyre prepared for him and gave his spirit to God. His relics were laid with honour by the faithful in the region of Mauritania.

St Polyeuctus is commemorated on 1 January, in the new style.