Theoprepius of Illyria

Holy Martyr Theoprepius of Illyria, called also Bogolep, was the son of the holy martyr Philetus and the holy martyr Lydia and the brother of the holy martyr Macedo. They suffered in the time of the emperor Hadrian (117-138), around those years.

Philetus was a notable official at the court of the persecutor Hadrian. For his open confession of faith in Christ the Saviour he was brought to trial together with his wife, Lydia, and his sons, Macedo and Theoprepius. By Hadrian's order they were sent to Illyria to the commander Amphilochius, to be put to torments. He ordered them hung on a tree and scraped with knives. Then the martyrs were shut in prison with the chief of the prisons, Cronides, who had come to believe. In the night an angel appeared to them and strengthened them for the suffering. On the next day the martyrs were plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil, but the oil cooled at once and the saints remained unharmed.

The commander Amphilochius was so struck by the wonder that he believed in Christ and himself entered the boiling oil with the prayer, Lord Jesus Christ, help me, and remained alive. The same torment was repeated when the emperor Hadrian came to Illyria. The holy martyrs were thrown again and again into the boiling oil and by the power of God remained alive. The emperor, put to shame, returned to Rome, and the holy martyrs gave thanks and glorified God and in prayer gave their holy souls into His hand.

Saint Theoprepius is commemorated with Philetus, Lydia and the others on 5 April.