Holy Martyr Tryphon

Life

Tryphon was born in the village of Campsada in Phrygia of poor parents. In childhood he tended geese. And from childhood there was upon him a great grace of God, so that he could heal illnesses in people and in livestock, and cast out evil spirits. At that time Emperor Gordian ruled the Roman Empire, whose daughter Gordiana went out of her mind, and thereby cast her father into great grief. All the physicians could not help the mad Gordiana in any way. Then an evil spirit from the mad maiden spoke and said that no one could cast him out except Tryphon. After many Tryphons from the empire, this young Tryphon too was summoned by God's Providence. He was brought to Rome where he healed the emperor's daughter. The emperor bestowed upon him many gifts, which Tryphon upon his return distributed entirely to the poor. In his village this holy youth continued to tend geese and pray to God. When the Christ-fighting Decius became emperor, Saint Tryphon was tortured and fiercely tormented for Christ. But he endured all the torments with great joy, saying: "O that I might be deemed worthy to perish by fire and torments for the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and God!" All the torments did him no harm, and the torturers finally condemned him to beheading by the sword. Before death Tryphon prayed to God and gave up his soul to his Creator in the year 250.

From the Hymn of Praise

There grew a golden-branched treeWith three golden branches,Upon it white birds,White, snow-white.