Thirty-Three Martyrs of Melitene

Holy Martyr Hieron and the thirty-two soldiers martyred with him at Melitene in Armenia.

Saint Hieron was a farmer of Tyana in Cappadocia who was conscripted into the army under Diocletian. When he and his companions refused to sacrifice to idols they were imprisoned at Melitene.

After tortures, Hieron and thirty-two others were beheaded. Tradition relates that his severed hand was later kept as a relic by his family.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Thirty-Three Martyrs of Melitene is commemorated on November 7. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on November 20 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on November 7

• Lazaros of Mount Galesion

  Venerable, Λάζαρος

  Venerable Lazaros of Mount Galesion.

  Name days: Lazaros, Lazarus, Lazare

• Melasippus, Kasine and Antoninus

  Martyr, Μελάσιππος, Κασσίνη και Αντώνιος

  Holy Martyrs Melasippus, his wife Kasine, their son Antoninus and forty children at Ancyra.

• Auctus, Taurion and Thessalonica

  Martyr, Αύκτος, Ταυρίων και Θεσσαλονίκη

  Holy Martyrs Auctus, Taurion and Thessalonica, who suffered at Amphipolis in Macedonia.

• Athenodoros the Martyr

  Martyr, Αθηνόδωρος

  Holy Martyr Athenodoros.

• Alexander of Thessaloniki

  Martyr, Αλέξανδρος ο εκ Θεσσαλονίκης

  Holy Martyr Alexander of Thessaloniki, who suffered under Maximian.