Talu

Holy Martyr Talu suffered at Laodicea, in the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305), together with Saint Trophimus. They were from Stratonicea in Caria, in Asia Minor. They are commemorated on 11 March.

While Asclepius was governor of Laodicea, a great persecution began against Christians. Seized, Talu and Trophimus were stoned for a long time, but remained untouched, and the official, ashamed, let them live for a while. Denounced again, they confessed before all that Christ is true God, mocked the idols and rebuked the tyrants. They were hung naked on a beam and their bodies deeply scraped, then crucified. On the cross they prayed and spoke to the people words that build up the soul, while the crowd hurried to touch them and gather drops of their blood. The saints blessed them and gave up their souls to God.

The faithful anointed the remains with fragrant oils and laid them in the church, and the governor's wife spread over their shrine a cloth of great price. Later Zosimus and Artemius, of the same city as the saints, took the shrine to Stratonicea and laid it in a tomb cut in the rock.