Serapion of Corinth

Holy Martyr Serapion of Corinth was one of the disciples of the Holy Martyr Codratus of Corinth and was beheaded in the time of the emperor Decius (249-251).

In the persecution of the third century a pious woman named Rufina fled from Corinth into the mountains. There she gave birth to Codratus and died soon after. By the providence of God the infant survived and was fed in a wonderful way: a cloud descended on him and nourished him with sweet dew. The childhood and youth of St Codratus passed in the desert. Grown to full manhood, he met Christians who enlightened him with the light of the true faith; he learned to read, then the art of healing, in which he became skilled. But most of all he loved the quiet of the desert and spent most of his time in the mountains, in prayer and thoughts of God. Friends and followers often came to him, among them Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens and many others, to hear his teachings.

At the command of the persecutor Decius, the commander Jason arrived at Corinth. Codratus was seized with his friends and thrown into prison. At the interrogations Jason addressed himself mostly to Codratus, as the eldest; he defended with courage his faith in Christ. They tormented him then, but Codratus, in spite of the torments, found strength to support the others, urging them not to fear. Obtaining a renunciation from no one, Jason commanded them thrown to the beasts, which did not touch them. They then tied them by the feet to chariots and dragged them through the city, while the crowd struck them with stones. At last they were condemned to be put to the sword. At the place of execution the saints asked a little time for prayer, then went one by one to the executioner, bowing their heads under the sword.

The other disciples of St Codratus also suffered for Christ: another Dionysius was stabbed, Victorinus, Victor and Nicephorus were crushed alive in a huge stone mortar, Claudius had his hands and feet cut off, Diodorus threw himself into the fire prepared for him, Serapion was beheaded, and Papias and Leonides were drowned in the sea. Following the example of the men, many holy women also went willingly to torments for Christ.

St Serapion is commemorated on 13 February and on 23 March, in the new style.