Holy Martyr Myron the Presbyter

Life

He was a priest in a certain place in Achaia, of a wealthy and distinguished family, gentle and meek by nature, a lover of God and of mankind. In the time of Emperor Decius, on the very day of the Nativity of Christ, the pagans burst into the church, dragged Myron from the service and put him to tortures. During the torture by fire, an angel appeared to him and strengthened him. After that they began to cut strips from his skin, from head to foot. The martyr seized one such strip of his skin and struck the torturer — the judge — in the face with it. The judge Antipater, as if beside himself, took a sword and slew himself. Finally they led Myron to the city of Cyzicus, and there they beheaded him with a sword in the year 250.

From the Hymn of Praise

Patroclus stood upright before the emperor,And glorified Christ God without fear;The emperor questioned him, and Patroclus said:"The rich man ought to give to the destitute.