The Holy Martyrs Proklos and Ilarion
Commemorated on July 12
The Holy Martyrs
Proklos and Ilarion were natives of the village of Kalipta, near Ancyra,
and they suffered during the time of a persecution under the emperor Trajan
(98-117). Saint Proklos was put under arrest first. Brought before the governor
Maximus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor decided to
compel the saint by force to submit himself to the emperor to offer sacrifice
to the pagan gods. During the time of tortures, the martyr predicted to
Maximus, that soon he himself would be compelled to confess Christ as the True
God. They forced the martyr to run after the chariot of the governor, heading
towards the village Kalipta. Exhausted along the way, Saint Proklos prayed,
that the Lord would halt the chariot. By the power of God the chariot halted,
and no sort of force could move it from the spot. The dignitary sitting in it
was as it were petrified and remained unmoving until such time, at the demand
of the martyr, that he would sign a statement with a confession of Christ; only
after this was the chariot with the governor able to continue on its way.
The humiliated pagan
took fierce revenge on Saint Proklos: after many tortures he commanded that he
be led out beyond the city, tied to a pillar and executed with arrows. The
soldiers, leading saint Proklos to execution, told him to give in and save his
life, but the saint said that they should do what they had been ordered.
Along the way to the
place of killing, there met them the nephew of Saint Proklos, Ilarion, who with
tears hugged his martyr-uncle and also confessed himself a Christian. The
soldiers seized him, and he was thrown into prison. The holy Martyr Proklos beneathe
the hail of arrows prayed for his tormentors and with prayer gave up his soul
to God.
Saint Ilarion, having
been brought to trial, with the same fearlessness as Saint Proklos confessed
himself a Christian, and after tortures he was sentenced to death. They tied
the martyr's hands and dragged him by his feet through the city, wounded and
bloody, and then they beheaded him 3 days after the death of his uncle, the
holy Martyr Proklos. Christians buried them together in a single grave.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.