Holy Martyr Patroclus (3rd century) — August 17 – Old Style / August 30 – New Style

On this day, August 17 according to the Julian Calendar (August 30 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Patroclus. He lived during the reign of the emperor Aurelian (270-275). It is known that he was a native of the city of Tricassini, the present-day Troyes in France. The Lord endowed him with the gift of working miracles.

The emperor Aurelian summoned the saint before him and demanded that he worship the idols, promising him in return great honor and rewards. But the saint, who longed for the glory of heaven, said to the emperor: “I am a Christian, and I will not offer sacrifice to idols; neither can you, a poor man, offer anything at all to me.” “How is it that you call me, the emperor and ruler of the world, a poor man?” Aurelian answered in anger. The blessed one replied: “You are the possessor of great earthly treasure, but you have no heavenly treasure, for you do not believe in Christ and you will not inherit the blessedness of paradise in the life to come, and therefore you are poor.”

For his disobedience and his boldness the sovereign condemned the martyr to be beheaded. The soldiers led him out to the bank of the river Sequana, the present-day Seine, but their eyes were suddenly darkened. Patroclus began to pray. Astonished at the saint’s disappearance, some of the soldiers glorified God, while others ascribed the miracle to sorcery. A pagan woman told the soldiers that Patroclus was on the far bank. The impious men crossed the river and put the chosen one of the Lord to death (+about 275). His body was buried with honor by night by the bishop Eusebius and the deacon Liberius.