Trophimus

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

While Asclepius was governor of Laodicea, a great persecution was launched against Christians. Trophimus and Talu, seized, were stoned for a long time, but God kept them untouched. The official, ashamed, let them live for some time without torment. Denounced again, they were brought to trial, where they boldly confessed that Christ is true God, mocked the idols and rebuked the tyrants. Hung naked on a beam, they had their bodies deeply scraped, and the saints, praying to God and scorning the Greek gods, filled the official with anger, and he ordered them crucified. On the way a great crowd followed them, and on the cross they spoke to the people words that built up souls. Many hurried to touch their bodies, collecting drops of blood or objects, and the saints blessed them and gave up their souls to God.

The faithful took the remains, anointed them with fragrant oils and laid them in the church. The wife of Asclepius, sensing the fragrance rising from the shrine of the saints, placed over it a cloth of great price. Later two pious men of the same city as the saints, Zosimus and Artemius, took the shrine to Stratonicea, about a mile away, and laid it in a tomb cut in the rock.