Feb. 17 – Great Martyr Feodor Tiron

The Great Martyr Feodor Tiron lived during the time of the persecutors Maximian and Maximinus, in the early 4th century. He was a recruit soldier (tiron) in a regiment stationed in the city of Amasiya, in the Pontic region of Asia Minor. When the regimental commander learned that Feodor believed in Christ, he ordered him to renounce his faith and offer sacrifice to the idols. But Feodor refused. The commander left him alone for a time, thinking he would come to his senses. Yet Saint Feodor even burned down one pagan temple. Then he was subjected to various tortures and finally condemned to be burned at the stake. The holy martyr fearlessly entered the fire himself and gave up his soul in prayer. This happened in 306. The head of Saint Feodor is in Gaeta, his right leg is on Athos in the Xenophontos Monastery, and particles of his relics are in Kiev, in the Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Fifty years after his martyric death, Saint Great Martyr Feodor performed a miracle in Constantinople, which is commemorated on the Saturday of the First Week of Great Lent. The emperor reigning at that time, Julian, was an apostate and persecutor of Christians. He devised a plan to defile Christians during the First Week of Great Lent by secretly ordering that all food sold in the markets be sprinkled each day with blood from idolatrous sacrifices. Then the holy martyr appeared from heaven to the Archbishop of Constantinople, Eudoxios, and instructed him to announce to the Christians that they should buy nothing edible in the markets but instead eat kolivo—that is, boiled wheat with honey. The Christians did so, and Julian was put to shame.

The Finding of the Relics of the Martyr Mina (commemorated December 10). He was a noble and highly educated Athenian. He suffered for Christ under Emperor Maximinus in 313. His relics were found during the reign of Emperor Basil in the 9th century, following an indication given by the martyr himself in a dream to a pious man.

Saint Mariamna was the sister and co-worker of the holy Apostle Philip in the work of preaching the Gospel. After her brother’s death, she preached in Lycaonia and there reposed in peace.