The Church commemorates Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, Callinicus, Philemon, and others.
Saints Thyrsus, Leucius, Callinicus lived during the reign of the emperor Decius, which was an era of great persecution of Christians. They were from Caesarea in Bithynia, Asia Minor. They were born to prominent families. They were always humble and lived a life of piety.
They were martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Decius. Leucius presented himself to the governor of the city and confessed his Christian Faith. He reprimanded the governor who tried, by all means, to prevent the Church from spreading the Holy Gospel by deriding and mocking the missionary work. After having been brutally tortured, Martyr Leucius was beheaded.
Saint Thyrsus also confessed his Faith in front of the Emperor. He was sentenced to cruel tortures but he remained steadfast to the Christian Faith. The pagan priest Callinicus, seeing the bravery and the patience of Saint Thyrsus, was also converted to Christianism. Both men were martyred. Callinicus was beheaded while Thyrsus was sentenced to be sawn in half.
In the long history of Christianity there are many persecutors who in the end, with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, also confessed with courage and repentance their faith in the true God.
