Xanthus of Melitene

Holy Martyr Xanthus of Melitene is mentioned in the account of the holy martyr Hieron and the martyrs who suffered together with him at Melitene. The Azbyka page says nothing particular about Xanthus, naming him only in the heading; what follows there is the story of Hieron and his companions.

Hieron was born in the city of Tyana in the second Cappadocia, of his devout mother Stratonike, in the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, worshippers of idols and persecutors of Christians. The emperors sent two cruel men, Agricolaus to Armenia and Lysias to Cappadocia, with the order to put to death the Christians who would not bow to idols and to enrol all strong men in the army. In Cappadocia Lysias heard of Hieron, a sturdy man famed for courage, and sent soldiers to take him. Hieron refused to serve beside idolaters and put the soldiers to flight, then hid with eighteen Christians in a cave, from which he drove off the pagans' attacks. His friend Kyriakos calmed him and led him to his mother, an old blind widow. Then Hieron, with his kinsmen Victor, Matronian and Anthony and other believers, set out for Melitene. In the night a man in white garments appeared to him and told him that he would soon come to the Heavenly King, and Hieron told his companions that the only true treasures are those in heaven.

At Melitene he was imprisoned with thirty-⁠three other Christians. He urged them not to bow to idols. Lysias tried them, and ordered Hieron's hand cut off up to the elbow, and had the others beaten without mercy. Victor, Hieron's kinsman, bribed an official to strike his name from the list and soon died, losing the crown of martyrdom as well. Hieron left his property to his kinsmen and his mother and commanded that his severed hand be taken home. On the fifth day Lysias condemned them to death by the sword; the saints went to the place of execution singing the psalm "Blessed are the blameless in the way" and were beheaded. A rich man, Chrysaphius, paid Lysias the weight of Hieron's head in gold, and Anthony and Matronian carried the saint's hand to his mother Stratonike. Chrysaphius later built a church at the place where the martyrs were beheaded.

Saint Xanthus is commemorated on 20 November, in the new style.