Vasoy of Amorion

Holy Martyr Vasoy of Amorion was one of the forty-⁠two Christian soldiers taken prisoner at the fall of Amorion in Galatia and put to death by the Saracens for faith in Christ.

During the war between the Greek emperor Theophilus (829-842) and the Saracens, the latter besieged Amorion. The city fell through the treachery of the commander Vaditzes. Forty-⁠two of its defenders were carried off to Syria. For seven years in prison they were urged in vain to deny Christ and accept Islam; they rejected every promise and bore the threats with courage. After many tortures they were condemned to death, and even before the execution an attempt was made to shake them. The soldier Theodore was told that he had left holy orders to become a soldier and shed blood, so he could not hope in Christ. He answered that he had not denied Christ and that, because he had left holy orders, he must shed his own blood.

The condemned went calmly to the executioners. They were beheaded and their bodies cast into the river Euphrates. The service praises Theodore as "most blessed", Callistus as "invincible", Constantine as "valiant", Theophilus as "wonderful" and Vasoy as "most strong". The traitor Vaditzes did not escape punishment: the enemy, knowing he could not be trusted, put him to death.

The saint is commemorated on 19 March, in the new style.