These blessed and Holy men are nearly certain to have been Slavs who lived during the reign of the ruthless emperor Diocletian. They served God in Thrace, and there they were first given over to tortures for Christ. When the pagans wished to set fire to a Christian Church, the brave Philip said to their leaders, “Do you think that God is enclosed within these walls? He lives in our hearts.”
The Church was destroyed, all the books burned, and these clergy were taken to Jedrene where they were imprisoned.
After the governor had learned that Deacon Severus had converted a centurion by the name of Memnon to Christ, he was sentenced to cruel torments and had three pieces of skin cut from his back.
Philip was also subjected to cruel tortures and alongside others he was raked with iron claws and burned. After their tortures, they were thrown half-burnt into the Maritsa River. Thirty-eight other Christians also died martyrically with them including the centurion Memnon.
Their name of the 37 that we know are Orion, Antilinus, Agathon, Molias, Eudemon, Silvanus, Sabinus, Eustathius, Straton, Bosua of Byzantium, Timothy, Palmatus, Mestus, Nikon, Difilus, Dometian, Maximus, Neophytus, Victor, Rinus, Satorninus, Epaphroditus, Cercanus, Gaius, Zoticus, Cronion, Anthony, Horus, Tyrannus, Panstenus [Parthenias], Achilles, Panthyrias, Chrysanthus, Athenodorus, Pantoleon, Theosebius, Zoilus, and Genephlius of Philippopolis.
Oh wondrous martyrs with such bold faith for Christ, pray for us!