Saint Kalliopius
Celebration date: 04/07
Saint Kalliopius came from Pergi in Pamphylia and lived during the years of the great persecutor of Orthodoxy Diocletian. At a very young age he was orphaned by his father, but his virtuous mother Theoklea raised him and nurtured him with the immortal verbs of the Christian faith. Thus, during the period of persecution, the young Kalliopius was not only not afraid, but on the contrary encouraged and comforted the weak-hearted. When the prefect Maximus arrived in the area and began to torture and kill many Christians, Kalliopius without any hesitation but with the boldness and impudence that distinguished him voluntarily presented himself to the prefect to warn him that he will be accountable to God for the crimes he commits against believers people. Enraged, the prefect ordered him to be arrested, tortured and imprisoned. When, after a few days, he was again brought before the prefect and Kalliopius, despite the hardships and tortures, with a stentorian voice, courageously confessed his faith, the prefect ordered his death. He was martyred by death on the cross by coincidence on Good Friday and thus received the amaranth wreath of martyrdom. And his mother Theoklias – according to tradition – after hugging her son’s body, she too cooled down on the spot.