Holy Martyr Patrick, Bishop of Prusa, with Three Presbyters: Acacius, Menander, and Polyenus

Life

They suffered for the faith of Christ in the time of Julian the Apostate in Prusa of Asia. The imperial governor Junius brought these saints to the hot springs and asked Patrick: "Who created these healing waters, was it not our gods Aesculapius and the others, to whom we bow?" Saint Patrick answered: "Your gods are demons, and these waters, like all else, were created by Christ the Lord and our God." Then the governor asked: "And will thy Christ save thee if I cast thee into this boiling water?" The saint answered: "If He wills, He can keep me whole and unharmed, although I would desire to be released in that water from this temporal life, that I might live eternally with Christ; but let His holy will be done upon me, without which not a hair falls from a man's head!" Hearing this, the governor ordered Patrick cast into the boiling water. Boiling drops splashed in all directions and cruelly burned many who were present, but the saint of God, on whose tongue was unceasing prayer, remained unharmed as though he stood in cold water. Seeing this, the governor raged with shame and ordered that the heads of both Patrick and his three presbyters be cut off with an axe. Then these guileless followers of Christ read a prayer and laid their heads beneath the executioner's axe. When their heads were cut off, their joyful souls ascended to the radiant kingdom of Christ, to reign eternally.

From the Hymn of Praise

In the dark dungeon Prince John languishesWith his brother Dimitri — and counsels his brother:— Do not grieve, brother, do not torment thyself with sorrow,A dungeon to the faithful is as a royal court,