Zeno of Melitene

Holy Martyr Zeno of Melitene was a friend of Saint Eudoxius and suffered with him and with Macarius, in the time of Emperor Maximian Galerius, successor of Diocletian.

Eudoxius was a high commander in the imperial army, a Christian, as were his friend Zeno and his steward, Macarius. When Diocletian issued an edict that Christians who would not sacrifice to the idols be put to death, many, among them men of rank, fled to other lands, and Eudoxius left his post and his property and hid, with his wife Basilissa and his whole household, within the bounds of Melitene in Armenia. The governor of Melitene sent soldiers to look for him. They met Eudoxius in poor clothing and, not recognizing him, asked where the commander Eudoxius was. The saint took them into his house, fed them and gave them lodging. He took the meeting as a call from the Lord to martyrdom. In the morning he told his guests that he was the one they sought. They, grateful, offered to hide that they had found him, but he would not accept. He set his household in order, told his wife not to weep for him but to keep the day of his death as a feast, and, putting on his soldier's dress, went with the soldiers to the governor. Basilissa and his friends, Zeno and Macarius, followed him.

The governor tried to persuade him to sacrifice to the idols, so as to keep his life, rank and property, but Eudoxius refused and rebuked the madness of those who worship lifeless idols. He took off his soldier's belt, the sign of his command, himself and threw it in the governor's face. The soldiers present, secret Christians, more than a thousand, did the same. The governor asked the emperor's leave, and the emperor ordered the leaders tortured and the others set free. After long torments Eudoxius was led to death. Basilissa followed her husband weeping, and his friend Zeno wept too. Eudoxius urged her again to rejoice that he had been found worthy of the crown and asked her to bury his body in a place called Amimna. To Zeno, who wept, he foretold that they would stand together in the Kingdom of Heaven at the same time. Strengthened by these words, Zeno confessed himself a Christian aloud and was condemned at once. Basilissa took her husband's body and buried it where she had been told; for this she was brought to the governor, whom she rebuked without fear, but he, understanding that she wished to suffer, did not torture her and drove her away. After seven days Eudoxius appeared to her in a vision and told her to tell Macarius that he and Zeno awaited him. Macarius went at once to the governor, confessed himself a Christian and was beheaded. In that time many Christians received martyrdom (about the years 311-312).

Saint Zeno is commemorated on 19 September, in the new style, together with Eudoxius and Macarius.