Hieromartyr Autonomus

Life

He withdrew during the persecution of Diocletian from Italy to Soreos, a place in Asian Bithynia, and there converted many to Christianity and built them a church of the Holy Archangel Michael. He dwelt in the house of a certain good Christian, Cornelius, whom Autonomus first ordained as a presbyter and then as a bishop. Not far from the city of Soreos there was a place called Limna, inhabited solely by pagans. Saint Autonomus went to that place and quickly enlightened many with the Gospel of Christ. This enraged the pagans, and one day they burst into the church of the Holy Archangel Michael in Soreos, and at the Divine Liturgy they slew Autonomus at the altar and killed many other Christians in the church. In the time of Emperor Constantine, a certain imperial dignitary named Severian built a church over the grave of Saint Autonomus. Two hundred years after his death, Saint Autonomus appeared to a certain soldier named John. This John unearthed the relics of the saint and found them completely incorrupt. And many of the sick received healing from the relics of the saint. Thus God glorified the one who glorified Him while he lived in the body.

From the Hymn of Praise

The glorious Autonomus did not shrink from suffering,But for the sake of his service was not bound to one place;Fleeing from the wrath of fierce persecutors,He sowed the seed of the Holy Gospel,