Theogenes of Parium

Holy Hieromartyr Theogenes of Parium was bishop of the city of Parium in Asia Minor at the beginning of the fourth century and received the crown of martyrdom around the year 320, in the time of the emperor Licinius (307-324), co-⁠ruler with Constantine the Great.

The tribune Zalichintius tried to force him to give up his sacred office, to renounce Christ and to enter the army. He refused resolutely, and the hierarch Theogenes was beaten mercilessly with rods and thrown into prison, where he refused to take food. Then he was condemned to be drowned in the sea. Before the execution the saint asked for time to pray, and during the prayer an extraordinary light enveloped him. The sailors and some of the soldiers who had been charged to drown him, astonished by the light, turned to Christ, but other soldiers hastened to throw him into the sea.

Later Christians took the saint's body out of the water and buried it beside the city wall. At that place many healings began to take place. Saint Theogenes is commemorated on 15 January.