Saint Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus

Life

Parthenius was the son of a certain deacon from the city of Melitopolis. Even as a child he well remembered the words of the Gospel, and strove to fulfill them. He settled beside a lake where he caught fish, sold them and distributed the proceeds to the poor. By God's providence he was chosen as Bishop of Lampsacus. He cleansed the city from paganism, closed the idolatrous temples, built many churches and established piety. By prayer he healed every illness, and was especially powerful over evil spirits. Once when he wanted to cast out an evil spirit from a certain mad man, the evil spirit begged him not to cast it out. "I will give you another man, whom you can enter and in whom you can dwell," Parthenius said to him. The evil spirit asked: "Who is that man?" "I am that man," the saint answered him, "enter and dwell in me!" Hearing this, the evil spirit fled as if scorched by fire, crying: "How could I enter the house of God?!" Saint Parthenius lived long and showed in deed his abundant love toward God and people. He departed to the eternal rest of Christ in the fourth century.

From the Hymn of Praise

The city of Nicomedia shone like a star,Like the morning star, an eastern capital.But one day, by the will of Duclijan,Four courtiers were beheaded,