Holy Martyr Leontius

Life

He was a Roman general in the Phoenician city of Tripolis, in the time of Emperor Vespasian. A native of Hellas, "great in stature, strong, mighty, and courageous in battle." The imperial governor Adrian sent a detachment of soldiers to seize Leontius, for this Adrian was a fierce opponent and persecutor of Christians. The commander of that detachment, Hypatius, fell ill on the way with a severe fever, so the detachment had to slow its march. One night an angel of God appeared to Hypatius and said to him: "If thou wouldst be well, cry out three times like the heavens with all thy soldiers: O God of Leontius, help me!" Hypatius communicated his vision to his companions, and they all cried out unanimously as the angel had counseled, and Hypatius was instantly healed. This miracle amazed them all, and especially a certain Theodulus. Then Hypatius and Theodulus went ahead, before the rest of the soldiers, to find the general Leontius. Leontius received them hospitably and entertained them. And when he set forth his faith in Christ to them, their hearts were inflamed with love for Christ, and at that moment a radiant cloud descended upon Hypatius and Theodulus, and from the cloud dew fell upon them. It was the Spirit of God Himself baptizing these converted souls, and Saint Leontius at that moment pronounced the words: "In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." When the wicked Adrian learned that both Hypatius and Theodulus had become Christians, he ordered that they be beaten without mercy and then that their heads be cut off with an axe. Thus ended these two spiritual children of Leontius. Then Adrian ordered fierce tortures upon Leontius, but Leontius remained unshakable in his holy faith. They covered his whole body with wounds, but he fervently prayed to God not to forsake him. In the midst of the most fierce torments an angel of the Lord appeared to him and encouraged and consoled him. Finally they threw the martyr to the ground and beat him until he gave up his spirit to God. The suffering of Saint Leontius was witnessed with his own eyes by a certain lord Notarius, who recorded it all on leaden tablets and placed the tablets in the tomb of the martyr. Saint Leontius honorably suffered in the year 73.

From the Hymn of Praise

Leontius of a lion's heart,A lion's heart and a lion's name,He was not ashamed of his GodBut before all confessed Christ,