Great Martyr Artemius of Antioch (†362) — October 20 / November 2 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 20 according to the Julian Calendar (November 2 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Great Martyr Artemius of Antioch.

The holy Great Martyr Artemius, one of the distinguished military commanders, lived and labored under the Emperor Constantine the Great, equal to the apostles (306–337, commemorated May 21), and afterward under his son and successor Constantius (337–361). For his faithful service and courage the saint was often rewarded, and at last he was appointed governor of Egypt. In this position the blessed Artemius labored greatly to strengthen Christianity in Egypt.

Meanwhile Julian (361–363) ascended the throne, an apostate who wished to revive paganism in the empire. He declared relentless war on Christianity and ruthlessly sent hundreds of Christians to their deaths. In Antioch the lawless emperor ordered the torture of the bishops Eugene and Macarius, renowned for their holiness. Artemius, having come to the city, witnessed their martyrdom and publicly denounced Julian for his impiety and cruelty. The enraged emperor then handed him over to the executioners. After his torture Artemius was thrown into prison. As the martyr prayed, Christ Himself appeared before him, accompanied by a host of angels, and said: “Be of good courage, Artemius! I am with you. I am already preparing for you a crown of glory, for as you have confessed Me before men, so will I confess you before My Father in heaven. Be strong and rejoice—you shall be with Me in paradise.”

The blessed one endured the suffering with patience. He prophesied to Julian that he would soon be punished for the evil done to Christians. This made the ruler yet more savage, and he intensified the martyr’s torments; but when he saw that every effort to bend St Artemius was in vain, he ordered his head to be cut off.

Christians buried the great martyr’s body. After the death of St Artemius, his prophecy of Julian’s approaching end came true: the apostate emperor left Antioch to fight the Persians. Near the city of Ctesiphon he met an old Persian who promised to betray his countrymen and to serve as a guide. Julian trusted the old man, who led him and his army into the impassable places of the Carmanian desert, where there was neither water nor food. The army, exhausted by hunger and thirst and reduced by half, suffered a cruel defeat at the hands of the enemy. The emperor himself was overtaken by divinely sent punishment: an unseen hand pierced his heart with an unseen weapon. Julian sighed heavily and said: “You have conquered, O Galilean!”

After the death of the heretical emperor, the relics of the Great Martyr Artemius were transferred with honor from Antioch to Constantinople.