11/03/2026 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Свв. мчч. Акепсими, єп., Йосифа, пресвіт., і Аїтала, дияк.
Оновлення храму св. вмч. Юрія
Hieromartyrs Akepsimas, Bishop in Persia, Presbyter Joseph, and Deacon Aeithalas
Consecration of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George
The Synaxarion (Lives of the Saints):
Saints Akepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter, and Aeithalas the Deacon were leaders of the Christian community in Naesson, Persia. They were deeply loved by the faithful for their devotion, ascetic lives, and tireless pastoral service.
During the persecution under King Sapor, Saint Akepsimas, already eighty years old, was arrested and brought before a pagan judge. Because he refused to worship the Persian gods, he was severely beaten and imprisoned. The seventy-year-old Presbyter Joseph and Deacon Aeithalas were also arrested and tortured. For three years, the saints endured imprisonment, hunger, and thirst.
When King Sapor summoned them and demanded that they worship the pagan gods, all three courageously confessed their faith in Christ. Saint Akepsimas was beheaded, while Saints Joseph and Aeithalas were taken away to be stoned.
After Saint Joseph’s execution, a violent storm struck the area, killing the guard stationed to protect his body. The saint’s remains mysteriously disappeared. Saint Aeithalas was stoned in the village of Patrias and secretly buried by Christians. According to tradition, a tree grew over his grave, and its fruit became known for bringing healing.
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Lydda (Lod) is the birthplace of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. It was there that his mother lived and where he spent his early years. Saint George served as a soldier in the Roman army and suffered martyrdom in Nicomedia during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century. After his death, Christians brought his holy relics back to his homeland, Lydda, where he was laid to rest.