The Holy Great Martyr Procopius

Life

Born in Jerusalem of a Christian father and a pagan mother. His original name was Neanias. After the death of his father, his mother raised her son entirely in the spirit of Roman idolatry. When Neanias grew up, Emperor Diocletian saw him one day and immediately took such a liking to him that he brought him into his court for military service. When this wicked emperor began to persecute Christians, he appointed Neanias with a detachment of soldiers to go to Alexandria and destroy the Christians there. But on that journey something similar to what had once happened to Saul befell Neanias. In the third hour of the night there was a great earthquake, and in it the Lord appeared to him, and a voice was heard: "Neanias, where art thou going, and against whom dost thou rise?" In great fear Neanias asked: "Who art Thou, Lord? I cannot recognize Thee." At that, a most radiant cross appeared in the air, as if of crystal, and from the cross came the voice: "I am Jesus the Crucified, the Son of God." And the Lord further said to him: "By this sign which thou hast seen, conquer thine enemies, and My peace shall be with thee." This experience completely turned and transformed the life of the commander Neanias. He had a cross made like the one he had seen, and instead of marching against the Christians he set out with his army against the Hagarenes, who were attacking Jerusalem. As a victor he entered Jerusalem and declared to his mother that he was a Christian. Brought before the judge, he removed his commander's belt and sword and cast them before the judge, showing thereby that he was only a soldier of Christ the King. After great tortures he was thrown into prison, where the Lord Christ appeared to him again, and baptized him, and gave him the name Procopius. One day twelve women came to his prison window and said to him: "We too are servants of Christ." Accused for this, they were thrown into the same prison, where Saint Procopius taught them the faith of Christ and especially how to receive the martyr's crown. For this reason Saint Procopius is mentioned in the rite of the crowning of marriage, alongside the God-crowned Emperor Constantine and Helen. Those twelve women were then terribly tortured. Watching their torments and their courage, the mother of Procopius also believed in Christ, and all thirteen were put to death. When Saint Procopius was led to the place of execution, he raised his hands toward the east and prayed to God for all the unfortunate and the suffering, for orphans and widows, and especially for the Holy Church, that it might grow and spread and that Orthodoxy might shine unto the end of time. And it was revealed to him from heaven that his prayer was heard, after which he joyfully stretched out his head beneath the sword and departed to his Lord in eternal joy. Saint Procopius suffered honorably in Caesarea of Palestine and was crowned with the wreath of immortal glory on July 8, in the year 303.

From the Hymn of Praise

When it is the will of the all-wise God,Persecutors become His servants,Haters become wondrous apostles,Atheists become zealots of the faith.