Vaptos of Pisidian Antioch

Holy Martyr Vaptos of Pisidian Antioch is remembered in the story of the Holy Hieromartyr Charalampius, bishop of Magnesia, and the martyr Porphyrius. The three, with three women martyrs, suffered in the year 202. Charalampius, bishop in the city of Magnesia in Thessaly in northeastern Greece, successfully spread faith in Christ. News of his preaching reached the governor Lucian and the commander Lucius, by whose order the saint was seized and brought to trial, where he firmly confessed the faith and refused to sacrifice to the idols. Although the bishop was advanced in years (he was already 113), he was subjected to terrible tortures: his body was torn with iron hooks until all the skin was stripped from head to foot. The saint said to his tormentors: "I thank you, brothers, you have renewed my spirit."

Seeing the old man's patience and gentleness, two soldiers, Porphyrius and Vaptos, openly confessed Christ and were at once put to the sword. Three women present at the bishop's suffering began to glorify Christ too and were tortured to death. Lucius, enraged, seized the instruments of torture himself, but his hands were suddenly paralysed, as though cut off by a sword. The governor came to the place of torment and spat in the saint's face, and his head at once turned backward. Then Lucius began to beg the saint for mercy, and at his prayer both tormentors were healed. Many witnesses believed in Christ, among them Lucius, who fell at the old man's feet asking forgiveness.

Lucian reported what had happened to the emperor Septimius Severus (193-211), who was then in Pisidian Antioch, in the western part of Asia Minor. The emperor ordered Charalampius brought to him, which was done with unheard-⁠of cruelty: the saint was dragged by a rope tied to his beard. The emperor ordered still greater torments, they set him on fire, but the power of God kept him unharmed. Through the saint's prayer miracles took place: a dead youth rose, a man possessed for thirty-⁠five years was healed, and the multitude confessed Christ. Even the emperor's daughter Galina, who twice smashed the idols in a pagan temple, believed. By order of the emperor the bishop was struck on the mouth with stones, they tried to set his beard on fire, but a flame came out of it and scorched the tormentors. Septimius Severus and the official Crispus blasphemed the Lord, mockingly calling Him to come down to earth and boasting of their power. The Lord shook the earth, great fear seized all, and the two impious men hung in the air bound by invisible bonds, and were brought down only at the prayer of the bishop. Frightened, the emperor wavered for a moment but fell again into error, ordered more tortures and at last sentenced him to be beheaded. At his last prayer the saint saw the Saviour Himself and asked Him to grant peace and fruitfulness to the place where his relics would rest, and to men forgiveness of sins and salvation. The Lord promised to fulfil the request and ascended, taking with Him the soul of the saint, who died in peace before the execution. The emperor's daughter, the blessed Galina, buried the martyr's body with great honour.

Saint Vaptos is commemorated on 23 February, in the new style.