Saint Kallistratus and the Forty-nine Martyrs with him
Date of celebration: 27/09
Saint Callistratus was martyred in Rome under Diocletian (284 – 304 AD). He came from Carthage and his parents, as well as his ancestors, were devout Christians.
When Callistratus grew up, he enlisted in the Roman army as a recruit but did not abandon his pious habits. One of them was the evening prayer. Some pagan soldiers reported the event to the pagan general Percentinus.
He, having first ordered his torture, then ordered him to be placed in a tied sack and thrown into the sea. Miraculously the sack was torn open and two dolphins rescued Callistratus. Forty-nine soldiers who saw the miracle believed in Christ. Persentinos was then enraged and ordered the beheading of all.