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Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus 12/27/2013
Saints Thyrsus and Leucius were noble citizens of Caesaria in Bithynia, the former had already been baptised and the latter was among the catechumens. Callinicus was a pagan priest. When Cumbricius, the successor of the Emperor Decius, had launched terrible persecution against the Christians and started mercilessly tormenting and killing them, the brave Leucius confronted him and exclaimed: “Cumbricius, why are fighting against your own soul?” The enraged Governor had him beaten and tortured, and at last he ordered his executioners to behead him. After being tortured, Leucius walked to the place of his execution with such a joy as if he was going to a feast. Seeing the death of the brave Leucius, the blessed Thyrsus became inflamed with Godly zeal, so as Leucius, he came out before the Governor and denounced him for his not believing in the one true God. He was also beaten and cast into prison. The invisible hand of God healed all his wounds, opened the prison gates and led him outside. Thyrsus went straight to the Bishop of Caesarea, Philius for holy Baptism. He was seized and put to torture again, but he endured all his sufferings as if they were not real, but a dream. His powerful prayer cast down many dumb idols. Seeing this, the idolatrous priest called Callinicus was converted to the faith of Christ. Callinicus and Thyrsus were both condemned to death. Callinicus was beheaded, while Thyrsus was shut in a wooden box and slowly sawn asunder. But God did not allow this, so the saw could not cut the wood. Then Saint Thyrsus got out of the box, prayed to God giving Him thanks for his sufferings and peacefully gave up his soul to God. By the end of the IV century the Caesar Flavian built a church dedicated to Saint Thyrsus near Constantinople and laid his holy relics in there. The Saint appeared in a vision to Empress Pulcheria and told her to bury the relics of the Forty Martyrs beside his.
