22 January 2025 (MIA)

Macedonian Orthodox Church Calendar

Saint Polyeuktos

Polyeuktos was a Roman soldier in Cappadocia (present day Armenia). He was a pagan but his best friend, Nearchus, was a devoted Christian. When a persecution of Christians was decreed by Decius and Valerian, Nearchus knew that his time was running out, but he greatly desired to convert his friend Polyeuktos. Polyeuktos did convert and, although tortured brutally, he refused to renounce his faith. So, in 259, Polyeuktos was martyred.

Catholic Calendar

St. Vincent, Deacon and Martyr

St. Vincent of Saragossa, a deacon, was apprehended with his bishop Valerius during a persecution by the governor of Spain, Dacian. Valerius was banished, but Vincent was submitted to the fiercest of tortures. His flesh was torn by iron hooks, he was placed on a red hot gridiron and roasted, he was thrown into a dungeon strewn with broken pottery—yet he still survived. At last his friends were allowed to visit him. They prepared a bed, and as they laid him on it he died.