The MonkMartyrs Patermuphios, Koprios and the Martyr Alexander

Commemorated on July 9

      The MonkMartyrs Patermuphios, Koprios and the Martyr Alexander suffered under the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). Patermuphios and his disciple Koprios were Egyptian hermits. When the apostate-emperor learned of the saints, he ordered them to be brought to him and he tried to seduce them into paganism, wickedly saying, that formerly he had served Christ but had learned, that only the pagan gods could provide salvation. Koprios was deceived by these words of the emperor and he betrayed Christ, but by the entreating prayers and tears of his elder he perceived his downfall, he repented and again confessed himself a Christian. The emperor became enraged and gave orders to torture Koprios fiercely. Patermuphios encouraged his brother monk to be brave and endure. One of the soldiers, Alexander by name, seeing the terrible sufferings of Koprios, believed in Christ and was sentenced to burning. Saints Patermuphios and Koprios were beheaded by the sword.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.