Trophimus of Synnada

Holy Martyr Trophimus of Synnada in Phrygia is remembered together with Sabbatius and Dorymedon. The three suffered for Christ in the reign of the Roman emperor Probus (276-282). In Antioch a pagan festival was being held, with sacrifices, wine and disorder. The Christians Trophimus and Sabbatius, who had come to the city, were grieved at the noisy celebration and prayed to the Lord to guide the astray toward salvation. They were seized and brought to the governor. At the examination they steadfastly confessed their faith and refused to renounce Christ.

During the torments Sabbatius died, and Trophimus was sent to still more terrible torments in the city of Synnada, to the governor of Phrygia, Dionysius, known as a tormentor. Shod in iron boots with sharp nails, he walked three days on foot, driven by mounted guards. The skilled tormentor used every torture to break him, but Trophimus only repeated the words of Scripture: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 33:19). He was thrown into prison, where a secret Christian, the senator Dorymedon, visited him, washing and bandaging his wounds. When the tormentors learned of it, they forced Dorymedon to renounce Christianity, and then threw him together with Trophimus to wild beasts, but the beasts did not touch them. Then they beheaded them with the sword.

Saint Trophimus is commemorated on 2 October, in the new style.