The Church commemorates Saint Simon the Zealot, Apostle, the martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, Cyprian, Onesimus, Erasmus and fourteen other martyrs.
Saint Simon was named Canaanite, which means Zealot. He came from Galilee. After the ascension of Christ to heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, Simon engaged in a wide-ranging missionary work.
He spread the message of the Resurrection of Christ the Savior in Persia, where, after shattering the myth of polytheism, he revealed to many people the light of evangelical truth. He then traveled to Africa to preach in many regions, from Egypt to Mauritania.
The last place of his admirable missionary activity was Britain. After teaching the Christian faith to the people there, he was arrested by the arrogant pagans, tortured and crucified.
Martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, Cyprian, who were brothers, as well as those martyred with them, lived at the end of the 3rd century AD. They were accused of being Christians, resulting in severe torture. Nevertheless, they did not renounce the true confession of faith.
In the end, Tertullus, governor of Sicily, sentenced them to death. Alphius was beheaded while Philadelphus and Cyprian were burnt alive on a gridiron.
Source: Church of Cyprus
