Saint Myron
Date of celebration: 17/08
Saint Myron was martyred when Decius was emperor, in 250 AD. Coming from a wealthy family, he could live comfortably, with all the earthly goods he could desire.
But his great love for Christ caused Myron to be ordained a Priest. Therefore, he dedicated himself completely to his pastoral duty and taught, instructed and helped each and every member of his flock. He cared daily for the poor, widows and orphans. Once, the prefect of Achaia Antipatros went to the place where Myron was officiating and arrested many Christians.
So in order to blackmail Myron, to convert him, he brought his flock before him and told him that if he denies Christ, he will let them all go free. Myron sneered and replied, “If it were for the salvation of my spiritual children, I would willingly give my life. But now it’s not about that. So let them answer themselves.”
Then they all shouted together: “No. A human soul is incomparably more valuable than thousands of bodies and than the whole world. So who among us wants to accept, so that our spiritual father loses his soul, so that our own flesh may live a little longer in this temporal world?” The prefect, enraged by the answer, after torturing Myron in a horrible way, finally beheaded him.