The Church commemorates today the Hieromartyr Sixtus II, Pope of Rome, of Athens, Archdeacon Laurence, and Hippolytus, who were martyred during the persecution in AD 253.
Hieromartyr Sixtus, Pope of Rome, was the first to publicly confess his faith in the Risen Lord and was martyred by beheading.
Saint Lawrence the Archdeacon was one of the most famous clergymen of the Roman Church, and was entrusted with the management of the treasury and riches of the Church and the distribution of alms to the indigent When he was arrested, he was asked to hand over the treasures of the Church.
Having in mind that the Church is a treasurer of the grace of the Holy Spirit that saves man and cannot be compared to any material treasure, Martyr Laurence presented the poor, the orphans and those who needed the help of the Church and told them that these were her treasures, which, according to the words of Christ, “neither moth, nor rot, nor rust doth destroy these treasures, nor thieves can break through the walls of these treasures, to steal their precious contents.” For his boldness and courageous attitude, the pagans tortured him to death. He confessed, during the martyrdom, that “no one can separate me from the love of Christ.”
Saint Hippolytus took care of his holy relic. But the ruler was informed about his action and ordered his torture. Thus, Saint Hippolytus was also martyred for the love of the Savior Christ. Looking at the life and martyrdom of the saints, Saint Paul was right when he said that Christians were “co-workers in God’s service,” “God’s field,” “God’s building.”
Believers are literally the “light” and the “salt” in the world. They are called to radiate with their lives a glorious light and with their militancy to be the salt against the decay and the blackening of society.
Source: Church of Cyprus
