Martyr3rd century

Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus with Three Women Martyrs

3rd century

Also known as Porphyrius · Baptus · the Three Women Martyrs of Magnesia

Two soldiers and three women who, witnessing the steadfastness of the Hieromartyr Haralambos under torture, confessed Christ and were martyred with him at Magnesia.

February 10New Calendar

Feast Day

February 23Old Calendar

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus, and the Three Women Martyrs, who suffered with the Hieromartyr Charalampos at Magnesia

Life

Porphyrius and Baptus were two soldiers, and three further women, who according to tradition were converted to Christ at the public torture of the Hieromartyr Charalampos (Haralambos), the aged priest and bishop of Magnesia. Witnessing the steadfastness of Charalampos under torment, they openly confessed Christ and were martyred for it. They are commemorated together with him on February 10.

The companions belong to the persecution recorded in the third century. The sources place the martyrdom at Magnesia, and assign the persecution to a Roman ruler named Severus, with a local official named Lucian or Lucius ordering the executions; the brief tradition surrounding the companions preserves little beyond the circumstance of their confession and death.

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3rd centuryConversion at the martyrdom of CharalamposBy tradition, while the aged Charalampos was being tortured at Magnesia, the soldiers Porphyrius (Porphyrios) and Baptus (Vaptos) were so moved by his endurance that they openly confessed Christ. They were beheaded with the sword. Three women watching the martyrdom likewise glorified Christ and were also put to death.

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Account

The two soldiers are named in the tradition as Porphyrius (Porphyrios) and Baptus (also given as Vaptos); the three women are not named in the surviving accounts. All five are remembered as companions of the Hieromartyr Charalampos, the priest and bishop of Magnesia, whose feast they share on February 10.

According to the account, executioners scraped and lacerated the body of the aged Charalampos, who endured the torments with thanksgiving. His constancy moved onlookers to confess the faith: the soldiers Porphyrius and Baptus declared themselves Christians and were beheaded, and three women who glorified Christ at the sight were martyred as well.

The sources differ on the reigning emperor — one attributes the persecution to Septimius Severus (reigned 193-211), another to Alexander Severus (reigned 222-235) — but both place the events in the third century, in agreement with the saints' commemoration. A local proconsul or commander named Lucian (Lucius) is named as ordering the executions at Magnesia.

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The bishop at whose martyrdom these soldiers and women confessed Christ; commemorated the same day.

Charalampos

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org)