The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theon and Antoninus

Commemorated on April 19

The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theon and Antoninus were spearsmen-soldiers of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). They were present at the sufferings of the GreatMartyr George (Comm. 23 April), they beheld the miracles accomplished by the power of God, and they witnessed the faith and unshakable courage of Saint George. The soldiers came to believe in the Saviour, threw down their golden military belts and afront of the emperor declared themselves Christians. They were immediately thrown into prison. The next day the emperor began to urge the former soldiers to renounce Christ, but they firmly confessed their faith and glorified the Saviour as the True God. The emperor gave orders to beat the martyrs with iron rods and to lacerate their bodies with hooks. The holy martyrs endured all the torments and remained unyielding. Then Diocletian gave orders to burn them. The martyr's death of Saints Christopher, Theon and Antoninus occurred in the year 303.