2nd century (died c. 140)
Denounced as a Christian under the Emperor Hadrian, he endured beatings and persecution yet remained steadfast in confessing Christ.
The Holy Martyr Pausilippus of Heraclea in Thrace
Pausilippus was an early Christian martyr of the second century, commemorated in the Orthodox tradition on April 8. According to the synaxarion, he suffered during the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian (117–138), when he was denounced by pagans and brought to trial. He openly confessed himself a Christian and refused to renounce his faith despite torture, and he is remembered as having died of the injuries inflicted on him.
Little detail about his life survives beyond the brief account of his trial and death. The surviving narrative is associated with Heraclea in Thrace, the region near Constantinople, and he is venerated as a martyr in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Pausilippus;
extinguishing the allure of false gods,
you enlighten the faithful,
always interceding for us all.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Your holy martyr Pausilippus, O Lord,
through his suffering has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Pausilippus is commemorated on April 8. He is also remembered in the Roman Catholic tradition as a martyr of the second century, in some calendars grouped with other early Roman martyrs.
The accounts of his life are brief and primarily hagiographical. Details such as his exact dates and the circumstances of his death vary between sources, and the surviving record does not preserve information about his birth or early life.
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