The Holy Martyr Leontius.
Leontius was a Roman commander in
Tripoli in Phoenicia during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. He was
born in Hellas [Greece] "of great physical stature, powerful,
strong and brave in battles." Hadrian, the imperial deputy, sent
a military detachment to arrest Leontius, for Hadrian was a fierce
adversary and persecutor of Christians. Hypatius, the senior officer
of this detachment, became ill enroute with a bitter fever because of
which the detachment had to slow down their march. One night an angel
of God appeared to Hypatius and said to him: "If you want to be
well, cry out three times toward heaven with all your soldiers: 'O
God of Leontius help me!' "
Hypatius informed his companions of his
vision and all in unison cried out as the angel instructed and
immediately Hypatius became well. This miracle astonished all but
especially Theodulus. Hypatius and Theodulus then went ahead of the
other soldiers to seek Commander Leontius. Leontius received them
graciously and served them. When he expounded his faith in Christ to
them, their hearts burned with love for Christ and, at that moment, a
bright cloud descended upon Hypatius and Theodulus and dew from a
cloud descended upon them. That was the Holy Spirit of God Himself
baptizing these converted souls and St. Leontius, at that moment,
spoke these words: "In the name of the All-holy Trinity: Father,
Son and Holy Spirit." The evil Hadrian, learning that Hypatius
and Theodulus became Christians, ordered that they be scourged
without mercy and following that to be beheaded with an axe. And so,
these two spiritual children of Leontius died.
Then Hadrian prescribed cruel tortures
for Leontius but Leontius remained unwavering in his holy faith. His
entire body was covered with wounds but he diligently prayed to God
not to abandon him. In the midst of the cruelest torments, an angel
of the Lord appeared to him, encouraged and comforted him. Finally,
they knocked the martyr Leontius to the ground and beat him until he
gave up his soul to God. The sufferings of St. Leontius was
personally witnessed by Kir Notarius who recorded all that he saw on
lead tablets and placed them in the martyr's grave. St. Leontius
suffered honorably in the year 73 A.D.
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