Protoleon of Nicomedia

Holy Martyr Protoleon of Nicomedia was a high official of the emperor Diocletian, a secret Christian, who confessed Christ openly and was put to the sword without trial, together with the Holy Martyr Anatolius. Their commemoration falls on the same day as that of the Holy Great Martyr George and the empress Alexandra.

St George, a Cappadocian by birth, raised in a Christian family, entered the Roman army and Diocletian (284-305) took him into his guard, with the rank of comes. When the emperor decided, in the assembly of the senate at Nicomedia, to give officials full freedom to persecute the Christians, George shared his wealth among the poor, freed his slaves and appeared before the senate, where he declared himself a Christian before all. The emperor tried to persuade him to sacrifice to the gods, then gave him to torments: George was put in prison with his feet in stocks, then bound to a wheel with iron spikes. Diocletian thought him dead and went to the shrine to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice, but a light and a voice from heaven were heard, an angel touched the martyr and George rose healed. When the soldiers led him to the shrine where the emperor was, he could not believe his eyes. Seeing the wonder, many believed in the God of the Christians.

Two prominent officials, Anatolius and Protoleon, secret Christians, at once confessed Christ and, by the emperor's order, were put to the sword on the spot, without trial. The empress Alexandra, wife of Diocletian, who was in the shrine, wished also to glorify Christ, but a servant held her back and led her to the palace. St George endured further torments, raised a dead man and was at last condemned to death; the empress Alexandra followed him to the execution and was also put to death.

St Protoleon is commemorated on 6 May, in the new style.