St. Themistocles the Martyr of Myra in Lycia (21 December)

Verses

The sharp iron spikes tore you apart,
You were steadfast as iron Themistocles.

The Holy Martyr Themistocles lived in the city of Myra of Lycia during the reign of the persecutor of Christians, Decius (249-251). Themistocles was a shepherd. During the persecution of the governor Asklepios, a certain Christian named Dioskorides went to hide in the mountains when word got out that soldiers were in pursuit of him.

In those mountains Themistocles was tending his sheep when the soldiers inquired where Dioskorides was hiding. Themistocles did not know where he was, but when he heard that he was being pursued for being a Christian he pleaded with the soldiers to leave him be since he also was a Christian and that he would replace him. When the soldiers ordered Themistocles to reveal the whereabouts of Dioskorides or else they would take him, Themistocles responded: “I just finished telling you that I shall go in his place. Whether he or I should go, it is the same, since we are both slaves of Christ and members of His body.”

Themistocles was brought before the governor and openly confessed Christ. The executioners then thrashed him in his belly until his inward parts were exposed. He was then suspended on a wooden post and tortured, rejoicing to be suffering like Christ on the Cross. He was then taken down from the post and dragged over iron spikes, which pierced his entire body, during which he gave up his holy soul and received the crown of martyrdom.

The faithful took up his holy relics and interred them honorably. In the earth surrounding the Saint’s tomb, his shepherd’s staff was planted, and it took root and grew into an almond tree, producing fruit that healed those who came to the Saint with faith.

A Divine Office for Saint Themistocles was composed by the hymnographer Fr. Gerasimos Mikragiannanites in 1966

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Source: John Sanidopoulos

“St. Themistocles was born in Myra of Lycia in the 3rd century AD. He was a shepherd in trade and a fervent Christian full of goodness. In the mid 3rd century AD emperor Decius began a great persecution against Christians. The leader of Lycia then was Asclepius. His soldiers were searching for Christians of the area and led them to the Asclepius to try them.

One of those Christians was Dioscorides. In 250 AD the soldiers of Asclepios pursued Dioscorides who fled to the mountain where St. Themistocles was herding his sheep. He sought from help from the Saint, who naturally hid Dioscorides from his pursuers. At one point the soldiers arrived there and asked St. Themistocles if he had seen the “fugitive”. The Saint told them to stop pursuing Dioscorides and to grant him life. They told him that unless he would reveal what he knew, they would take him. And this is what happened.

The Saint was led to Asclepius’ court where he amazed those who were standing near with the goodness of his word and the wisdom of his responses. Asclepius ordered him to give up Dioscorides that he save his life and be saved from tortures which he would face. St. Themistocles, fervent Christian that he was, responded that it did not matter if they tortured or killed him. He responded that it would be his joy to witness for his faith in Jesus Christ.

Asclepius ordered them to torture the Saint and deliver him to the executioners. They stretched the Saint’s limbs and beat him in the stomach where his internal organs were. They continued to hang him from a tree in order to flay him with iron claws. The Saint from the tree said to Asclepius that on the tree (in other words the Cross) Christ was glorified and saved the world from its sins. Asclepius then ordered the death of St. Themistocles who was led by the executioners outside of the city where he was finally martyred. He was thrown onto bushes with thorns and there delivered his soul to the Creator.

The Christians of the city buried the body of St. Themistocles and “planted” the shepherd’s staff that he had, as a shepherd, next to his grave. This staff, in a miraculous manner, sprouted and became an almond tree. For many years after the death of the Saint, the almonds healed the sick.

Our Church celebrates the memory of St. Themistocles on December 21st.”
(amateur translation of text from: http://www.matia.gr/7/72/7203/7203_3_6.html)

Apolytikion for a Martyr in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

(taken from: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=616&type=saints)