The Monk Paul, Bishop of Neocaesarea

Commemorated on December 23

The Monk Paul, Bishop of Neocaesarea, suffered under the emperor Licinius (307-324). At trial having firmly confessed his faith, Saint Paul was subjected to beatings. They tortured him also with hunger, but he remained steadfast. Then they scorched his hands with red-hot iron and locked him away in a prison, situated at the banks of the Euphrates. After the execution of Licinius in the year 324, when the Emperor Saint Constantine I became the sole sovereign ruler of the Roman empire, and Christians sitting in prison received their freedom, holy Bishop Paul returned to his flock. He was a participant at the First OEcmenical Council at Nicea, convened in the year 325, at which the Arian heresy was condemned and the Symbol-Creed of Faith adopted. At the end of the Council, the Emperor Constantine solemnly received the Council participants and kissed the burnt hand of Saint Paul. After long years of guiding his flock, Saint Paul peacefully expired to God.