Died early 4th century (c. 315)
Christian court officials and companions who suffered martyrdom at Tomi after refusing to renounce Christ.
The Holy Martyrs Macrobius and Gordian and those with them, who suffered at Tomi
Macrobius and Gordian were Christian officials of the Roman imperial court who, together with several companions, suffered martyrdom at Tomi in ancient Scythia Minor (modern Constanța, Romania) in the early fourth century. Macrobius came from Paphlagonia in Asia Minor and Gordian from Cappadocia; both served in the imperial court and enjoyed the particular favor of the emperor until their Christian faith was discovered.
On learning that they were Christians, the emperor banished Macrobius and Gordian to Scythia. There they met fellow believers — Zoticus, Lucian, Elias, and Valerian — who were also steadfast in the faith. Gordian and Macrobius were put to death first, after which Elias, Zoticus, Lucian, and Valerian were tortured and beheaded at Tomis. The Orthodox Church commemorates the whole group together on September 13.
Your holy martyrs 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!
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
The martyrdoms are placed in the early fourth century under the emperor Licinius (reigned 311–324), who ruled the eastern portion of the Roman Empire and renewed persecution of Christians. The Mystagogy Resource Center counts Macrobius and Gordian among eleven holy martyrs who suffered during Licinius's reign, dating their deaths to about 315.
Tomis, the place of their martyrdom, was a city of Scythia Minor on the Black Sea coast, corresponding to modern Constanța in Romania.
The group is depicted in the Menologion of Basil II, the illustrated Byzantine liturgical calendar, labeled as the martyrs 'at Tomi in Romania,' attesting to their place in the wider Orthodox commemorative tradition.
Synaxarion verses preserved in the tradition describe their deaths by wild beasts. A verse concerning Macrobius reads that what he long desired in life shortened his life by the teeth of beasts; a verse concerning Gordian likewise speaks of the enraged beasts. The verse naming Gordian also mentions a companion 'Seleucus,' which may reflect a distinct tradition or a variant naming within the verse.