Saint Athenogenes

The Holy and Glorious Hieromartyr Athenogenes of Heracleopolis and his disciples suffered for their faith in the Lord. Their memory is commemorated on July 16.

Hieromartyr Athenogenes and his Ten Disciples suffered for Christ during the persecution of Christians in the city of Sebastea in Cappadocia. The governor Philomachos arranged a large festival in honor of the pagan gods and called upon the citizens of Sebastea to offer sacrifices to the idols. Most of the inhabitants of Sebastea were Christians, and refused to participate in the impious celebration. Soldiers were ordered to kill those who resisted, and so many Christians received a martyr’s crown.

Bishop Athenogenes was arrested when he came to Sebastea to inform the judge that those who had been jailed were innocent. While in prison, Athenogenes encouraged his spiritual children, preparing them for their impending struggle. Led forth to trial, all the holy martyrs confessed themselves Christians and refused to offer sacrifice to idols.

After undergoing fierce tortures, the disciples of the holy bishop were beheaded. After the execution of the disciples, the executioners were ordered to torture the bishop. Strengthened by the Lord, the saint endured the tortures with patience and dignity. He requested only that he be executed in the monastery.

Taken to his own monastery, the saint gave thanks to God, and he rejoiced in the sufferings that he had been accounted worthy to endure for Him. He prayed that the Lord would forgive the sins of all those who would remember both him and his disciples.

The Lord granted the saint to hear His Voice before death, announcing the promise given to the penitent thief: “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” The hieromartyr willingly bent his neck beneath the sword, thus entering eternal life.

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Athenogenes (excerpts)