On this day, July 3 according to the Julian Calendar (July 16 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Hyacinthus of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who suffered for Christ around the year 108 AD.
The Holy Martyr Hyacinthus was raised in a devout Christian family in Caesarea of Cappadocia. He served at the court of the Roman Emperor Trajan (98–117). One day, shut in his room alone, Hyacinthus was praying fervently to God. A servant passing by overheard his prayers and reported the young man to the Emperor.
Brought before the emperor, Hyacinthus boldly confessed his faith in Christ. He was immediately subjected to harsh imprisonment. The guards, on the orders of Trajan, offered the prisoner food that had been sacrificed to idols, hoping to compel him to partake of it and thus renounce his faith. Hyacinthus refused to eat such food, and having spent thirty-eight days in prison without any food, he died of starvation. He was found clutching an icon of Christ in his hands.
The body of the holy martyr was taken by a Christian priest and buried with honor. He was barely eighteen years of age at the time of his martyrdom.
May the intercessions of the Holy Martyr Hyacinthus of Caesarea be with us all.