Saint Leo, Bishop of Catania

Life

Beneath the volcanic mountain Etna, in the city of Catania, Leo the holy one was a good shepherd and a merciful teacher of men. He had great care for the sick and the destitute. And his zeal for the Faith was as great as his compassion toward the afflicted. There appeared in that city a certain sorcerer named Heliodorus, who deceived the people with various illusions and greatly corrupted the youth. Once, during the Divine Service, he entered the church of God and began his conjurations. Saint Leo approached him, bound him with one end of his omophorion, and led him to the city marketplace. There he commanded that a great fire be kindled, and when the fire blazed up, he stood in the midst of the flames and drew Heliodorus into them as well. Heliodorus was burned entirely, while Leo remained alive and unharmed. All those who had been deluded by Heliodorus and who had looked upon him as some kind of deity were put to shame. And the merciful and zealous Leo became renowned throughout the entire empire as a great wonderworker who aids men through his luminous miracles. When he completed his course, his soul departed to the Lord, and from his holy relics there flowed a healing myrrh. He reposed in the eighth century.

From the Hymn of Praise

### HOLY PRIEST-MARTYR SADOC