died c. 308
A nephew of the Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit who, having confessed Christ with his kinsmen, was kept in prison and at last martyred near Comana in Pontus, where a church rose over his relics.
The Holy Martyr Basiliscus, Bishop of Comana
Basiliscus was a martyr of the early fourth century, by tradition a nephew of the Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (Theodore Tyro). He suffered during the persecution of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311) and was put to death near Comana in Pontus, where a church was later raised over his relics. His principal commemoration falls on May 22.
He had earlier confessed Christ together with his kinsmen Eutropius and Cleonicus; his brothers were martyred, while Basiliscus was kept in prison at Comana. He is also named in their group commemoration on March 3. By tradition Comana is the place where Saint John Chrysostom later reposed, in the church dedicated to Basiliscus.
You were shown to be strong and courageous in suffering;
you were revealed to be a wonder-worker in miracles!
You openly bore the name of Christ, putting the tyrant to shame!
Therefore we honor you, most honored Basiliscus,
ever crying: “Rejoice, splendid adornment of the martyrs!”
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Your holy martyr Basiliscus, 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).
The tradition names Basiliscus a nephew of the Great Martyr Theodore Tyro and a companion of the martyrs Eutropius and Cleonicus, whose feast he shares on March 3. After his companions were crucified, Basiliscus was imprisoned at Comana during the persecution of Maximian Galerius, while the governor Agrippa carried on a persecution centered at Amasea.
The synaxarion recounts that, taken under guard toward Comana, Basiliscus was bound to a tree, and that an earthquake opened the ground and a spring of water came forth; he was at last beheaded by Agrippa's order and his body thrown into the river. A church was afterward built in his honor on the spot and his relics translated into it, where, the account relates, healings began to occur.
By a widely received tradition, this church near Comana in Pontus is where Saint John Chrysostom died in exile in 407, and the martyr is said to have appeared to him shortly before his repose. The Greek tradition keeps a second commemoration of Basiliscus on July 30.
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