Today, according to the calendar, it is the feast day of:
- Sabattios, Sabatos, Sabattis, Sabatía, Sabatína, Sabatá, Sabatí, Sabatíto
Saints Trophimos, Sabattios, and Dorymedon
All three were martyred during the reign of King Probus and the governor of Antioch, Heliodorus (278 AD).
In the 3rd century, during the reign of Emperor Probus, when the Athenian was governing Antioch, two Christians named Trophimos and Sabattios, distinguished and prominent citizens, came to this city.
They arrived at the time when a public pagan festival involving offerings to Apollo was taking place in nearby Daphne of Antioch.
Heliodorus had done everything possible to ensure the participation of all citizens in the events. Someone noticed that Trophimos and Sabattios were not taking part in the festival and reported them to Heliodorus. The governor immediately ordered them to appear before the judge. Since they did not renounce Christ, the governor subjected them to horrific tortures, one after the other. After beating Trophimos until he bled, he sent him to the governor of Phrygia, Dionysius. He was an even more ruthless torturer of Christians.
Then Heliodorus brought Sabattios out of prison and interrogated him. When asked by the tyrant about his rank, the Christian replied: “My rank, my homeland, my glory, and my wealth are Christ, the Son of God, who lives forever, and through His providence the universe exists and is maintained!” For the boldness of his confession, he was flogged and had his flesh torn with iron claws until his bones were laid bare. After the horrific tortures, Sabattios surrendered his spirit to God.
In Phrygia, the governor Dionysius subjected Trophimos to new tortures and then imprisoned him to be tortured for a long time with worse torments. At that time, a prominent citizen and crypto-Christian, Dorymedon, came to the prison and took care of the martyr Trophimos. However, the tyrant learned of this and subjected both to similar tortures. In the end, he threw them to wild beasts, but they became tame and did not even touch them. Dorymedon called out to the hungry bear and pulled at its ears to provoke it, yet the wild bear grew increasingly tame. The final order of the tyrant was to behead the holy martyrs Trophimos and Dorymedon with swords. Thus, their souls ascended to heaven, where they now reign.
Apolytikion
Tone 5. The beauty
Having flourished the incorruptible power of the Trinity, glorious Martyrs, you have firmly entrusted the thorn of deceit, O blessed Trophimos, the delight of the Church, O wise Sabattios, embellishment of athletes, and the glory of the pious Dorymedon, from whence we commemorate you.