Porphyrius

Holy Martyr Porphyrius suffered together with the Holy Martyr Onesiphorus in the time of the Roman emperor Diocletian, at the beginning of the fourth century.

In the fierce persecution begun by this emperor against the Christians, they were beaten without mercy over their whole bodies and subjected to various torments. Then their tormentors laid them on long frying pans, lit a fire and burned them. Finally they tied them to wild horses; dragged over stony and uneven ground, the holy martyrs were torn completely apart and gave their souls into the hands of God. The faithful secretly gathered their remains at night and buried them with honour in the village of Pangiana, where all kinds of miracles and healings began to flow from them.

The village of Pangiana (Pankean) lay in Macedonia, near Mount Pangaion, from which it takes its name. The relics in this village and their miracles are mentioned in the ninth ode of the canon composed by Joseph the Hymnographer. St Porphyrius is commemorated on 22 November, in the new style.