Themelius of Melitene

Holy Martyr Themelius of Melitene is commemorated in the company of martyrs around the Holy Hieron, who suffered at Melitene. The calendar page we rely on tells their passion together and says nothing in particular about Themelius.

Hieron, born at Tyana in Cappadocia of a pious mother named Stratonike, refused to be enrolled in the army of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian by the governor Lysias, because he would not serve alongside idolaters. After putting the soldiers sent for him to flight, he withdrew with eighteen Christians into a cave, then, gently urged by a friend, went to Melitene. There he was shut in prison with thirty-⁠three other Christians, who resolved together not to bow to idols. Lysias tried them. He cut off Hieron's hand and had the others beaten. On the fifth day, failing to persuade them, he condemned all of them to be beheaded, and they went to their death singing a psalm. Hieron's head was ransomed with gold by Chrysaphius, who built a church on the place of the martyrdom, and his hand was carried to his mother.

Themelius is commemorated on 20 November (new style), that is 7 November by the old calendar.