During the darkened rule of Diocletian and Maximian many suffered countless persecution for expressing their Christian faith.
Thus was the fate of Onesiphorus and Porphyrios. These two blessed martyrs spent their time assisting the poor and needy and gave all they had to the less fortunate. They also belonging to a group who took the martyred Christians that had been persecuted and properly buried their bodies in the night. One eve, the soldiers caught them collecting the bodies, and they were sentenced to a trial. When they stood before the court, the emperor attempted to persuade them to turn from their faith, but they refused.
Since Onesiphorus and Porphyrios would not deny Christ they were ordered to be beaten and then burned. Through God’s intercession, they survived and were subject to harsher torments.
They were caught with rope and bound from their wrists to horses who ran them over stones cutting their flesh. This lasted for several hours until the horses were tired from running. It was in this process thier tired, cut and bloodied bodies gave their souls unto the Lord sometime near the late third century.
Their bodies left torn and mangled, Christians retrieved what was left and buried them properly.
Their holy relics are not in Pantokrator Monastery on Mount Athos and from them many miracles have occurred.
May we honor them for
their bravery and steadfast love of Christ!