By Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria
Today, the Church commemorates the martyr Markellos of Apamea in Syria.
Hieromartyr Markellos lived during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I the Great. He came from Cyprus, where he received a secular post, as he was given command of the island.
Everyone on the island marvelled at his righteousness during his tenure. He later became a priest and then became Bishop of Apamea in Syria. As a pastor he was fair and discreet. He tried to keep up with the problems of his flock, with fatherly love and understanding. He became a great zealot of the Orthodox faith, erecting many churches and demolishing many pagan temples at the same time.
On the occasion of these events, they arrested him and threw him into a furnace, where the Saint entrusted his spirit into the hands of the Lord.
Source: Church of Cyprus
