Commemorated on June 18
The Holy Martyr Leontios was a Roman commander in Tripoli in Phoenicia during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. He was born in Greece and was “of great physical stature, powerful, strong and brave in battles.” Hadrian, the imperial deputy, sent a military detachment to arrest Leontios, for Hadrian was a fierce adversary and persecutor of Chrisitans. Hypatios, the senior officer of this detachment, became ill en route with a bitter fever, because of which this detachment had to slow down its march. One night an angel of God appeared to Hypatios and said to him: “If you want to be well, cry out three times toward heaven with all of your soldiers, ‘O God of Leontios, help me!’ “
Hypatios informed his companions of this vision and all in unison cried out as the angel had instructed, and immediately Hypatios became well.
This miracle astounded all, but especially a certain Theodolos. Hypatios and Theodolos then went ahead of the other soldiers to seek Commander Leontios. Letonios received them graciously and served them. When he expounded his faith in Christ to them, their hearts burned with love for Christ, and at that moment a bright cloud descend upon Hypatios and Theodolos and dew fell upon them from the cloud. It was the Holy Spirit of God baptizing these converted souls, and at that moment Saint Leontios spoke these words: “In the name of the All-Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
The evil Hadrian, learning that Hypatios and Theodolos had become Christians, ordered that they be courted without mercy and then beheaded with an axe. Thus reposed these two spiritual children of Leontios.
Then Hadrian decreed cruel tortures for Leontios, but Leontios remained unwavering in his holy Faith. His entire body was covered with wounds, but he diligently prayed that God not abandon him. In the midst of the cruelest torments, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, encouraging and comforting him. Finally the torturers knocked the martyr Leontios to the ground and beat him to the ground and he gave up his soul to God. The sufferings of St. Leontios were personally witnessed by a certain Notarios, who recored all that he saw on lead tables and placed them in the martyr’s grave. St. Leontios suffered honorably in the year 73.
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 3
Girded with divine strength you triumphed in your contest, / O Leontios, the Savior’s trophy-bearer. / You sprang into the contest like a lion, / and destroyed the enemy’s might. / O glorious martyr, entreat Christ our God to grant us his great mercy!
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyr Leontios and his companions, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 3
You confounded the wicked plans of tyrants / and exposed the godless worship of the pagan Greeks. / You illumined all mankind with the knowledge of God by your teachings of true piety, divinely-wise martyr. / Therefore, Leontios, we lovingly honor your memory.