Feast of the Priest St. Theoditon, Sts. Soldiers Zenon, Makar, Eudoxios and Ramelas

Priest St. Theoditon (Theodoret) was the head of the Church of Antioch. He has lived during the reign of the King Julianos the Betrayer. The King’s nephew - Count Julianos, who was the Governor of the Eastern Provinces of the Roman Empire, orders to exile all clergymen with the aim to more easily seize the treasures belonging to the churches. Priest St. Theoditon refuses to leave the church or handle in the church property and continues his daily divine services and preaching. The Count first imprisons him, then subjects him to torments and beheads him in 303 AD. Before being martyred St. Theoditon makes some prophecies, which come true. Count Julianos dies as the result of an unknown disease, and the King Julianos the Betrayer dies being wounded during the war against Persians.

Soldiers Zenon, Makar (Marcarius) and Eudoxios (Eudoxius) have been subjected to torments and martyred during the reign of the King Maximianos, in 311-312 AD, in the town Melitene of the Pokr Hayk (Armenia Minor). During the period of persecutions Eudoxios, who was a captain serving in the royal army, hides together with his wife – Vasilouhie and his companion soldiers - Zenon and Makar. Then he gives himself up to the soldiers and is beheaded together with Zenon. Makar follows them and is martyred, too.

Ramelas (Romulus) has been martyred during the reign of the King Trayanos. During the campaign to the East the King finds out that there are 11000 Christians serving in the Army. He exiles them to the town Melitene of the Pokr Hayk (Armenia Minor). The Captain Ramelas condemns the King for his atheism and announces his being Christian. Because of being Christian he is beheaded.