Holy Martyrs Paramon and 370 Others

Life

In Asian Bithynia a certain prince named Aquilinus terribly persecuted Christians. Once he captured 370 Christians and led them bound to a certain place where there was a temple of the idol god Poseidon. There the wicked prince compelled them to bow down to the idol and offer sacrifice. Although the prince threatened with capital punishment anyone who would not obey his command, not a single Christian submitted to his command. At that hour a certain honorable man named Paramon was passing by the road near the temple. He stopped at the crowd of bound people and learned what was happening, and having learned he cried out: "How many innocent righteous ones does the vile prince wish to slaughter because they do not bow to his dead and dumb idols!" And Paramon continued on his way. Then the enraged prince sent his servants to kill Paramon. The servants overtook Paramon, seized him, and first pierced his tongue with a thorn, then stripped him naked, and thus pierced his whole body. Holy Paramon with prayer in his heart gave up his soul to God. Then also those 370 martyrs, great as sons of God and innocent as lambs, were beheaded by the sword, and passed into the immortal kingdom of Christ the Lord. They suffered in 250.

From the Hymn of Praise

Acacius, wondrous monk,By obedience saved his soul,His soul now rejoices,And his name is glorified.