Priest-Martyr Artemon

Life

He was a priest in Laodicea during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Before the judge and torturer he spoke thus of himself: "My name is Artemon, a servant of Christ my God; for 16 years I was a reader and read the books in the church of my God; for 28 years I was a deacon and read the Holy Gospel; 33 years I have completed as a presbyter, teaching the people and guiding them on the way of salvation with the help of Christ." The judge led him into the temple of Aesculapius, where the priests especially tended great serpents consecrated to that "god." Everyone expected the serpents to bite Artemon. But he made the sign of the Cross and by the power of the Cross he pinned all the serpents to the ground so that they could not move. He then led them all out into the courtyard, breathed upon them, and killed them all in an instant. Everyone was in great terror. And the chief priest of that temple, Vitalius, seeing this miracle, fell on his knees before Artemon and cried out: "Great is the God of the Christians!" And the martyr baptized him together with some of his friends. But the malicious judge remained obstinate in his malice and tormented the aged Artemon with various tortures. On one occasion he sought to cast him into boiling pitch, but he himself was thrown from his horse into it and was burned to death. Two eagles were seen to swoop down upon him, lift him from his horse, and hurl him into the pitch. Saint Artemon remained free for a time and went about, always accompanied by his two beloved deer, teaching the people. But he was again seized and beheaded in the year 303. And his soul departed to the Kingdom of Christ God, our Lord, Whom the holy Artemon had faithfully served.

From the Hymn of Praise

### HOLY MARTYR THOMAIS