Sozon of Paphos

Holy Martyr Sozon of Paphos is a local saint of Paphos and a martyr of the Church of Cyprus, unknown to the synaxaria. The medieval chronicler Leontios Machairas writes about him.

He was a young shepherd from Plakoundoudi, a medieval settlement near the village of Asprogia in Paphos. The Saracens, who came to Cyprus in the seventh century, pursued him. In his flight he broke the jar of milk he was carrying, and the marks of the spilled milk could be seen on the stones. He hid in a cave where other children had also taken refuge, but the Saracens set fire to the cave and burned them.

The cave stands near Asprogia and bears the name of the cave of Saint Sozon. A spring is said to have flowed from it long ago, regarded as holy water, which healed skin rashes. Later a church was built nearby, in which the martyr's bones were kept; its ruins can still be seen. His relics are preserved in the monasteries of Machairas and Chrysorrogiatissa, where his icon is also found. He is commemorated on 7 September (new style) and venerated locally.