By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
The Orthodox Church commemorates today, December 14, the memory of the martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, Callinicus, Philemon, and others.
Saints Thyrsus, Leucius, Callinicus lived under the emperor Decius. It was an era of great persecution of Christians. They were coming from Caesarea in Bithynia, Asia Minor. They were sons of prominent families and had always been humble and lived a life of piety.
When Decius began the persecution of Christians Leucius presented himself to the prefect of the city and confessed his Christian Faith. He tried to stop the prefect who tried, by all means, to prevent the Church from spreading the Holy Gospel. After suffering from horrific torture, Martyr Leucius was beheaded.
Saint Thyrsus also confessed his Faith in front of him. He was therefore sentenced to cruel tortures but he remained steadfast in his faith in the Savior Christ. The pagan priest Callinicus, seeing the bravery and the patience of Saint Thyrsus, also believed in Christ. Callinicus was beheaded, while Thyrsus had his body cut up with a saw.
Source: Church of Cyprus