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Martyr4th century

Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia

Also known as Gemellus of Ancyra

A Christian who rebuked Julian the Apostate and endured severe tortures before martyrdom.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia

Life

Gemellus of Paphlagonia was a fourth-century Christian martyr of Asia Minor, remembered for openly rebuking the emperor Julian the Apostate (reigned 361-363) and enduring severe tortures before his death by crucifixion. A native of Paphlagonia, he is associated in the sources with the city of Ancyra (modern Ankara) in Galatia, where the confrontation with the emperor took place.

The accounts of his life are brief and place his martyrdom near the beginning of Julian's reign; sources variously give the date as 361 or 362. He is commemorated in the Orthodox Church on December 10.

Troparion & Kontakion2 hymnsReadHide
TroparionTone 4

Your holy martyr Gemellus, O Lord,
through his sufferings 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).

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Gemellus;
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).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide
  1. 361-363Reign of Julian the ApostateGemellus lived during the brief reign of the emperor Julian, who renounced Christianity and sought to restore pagan worship throughout the empire.
  2. c. 361-362Confrontation at AncyraLearning that Julian was present at Ancyra, Gemellus, an honoured citizen of the city and a native of Paphlagonia, openly reproached the emperor for his apostasy.
  3. c. 361-362Tortures and martyrdomHe was subjected to severe tortures and ultimately put to death by crucifixion on the emperor's order. His body was secretly taken down and buried by Christians.

Contributions & Legacy

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The Confrontation with Julian

According to the synaxarion accounts, Gemellus came before the emperor Julian when Julian visited Ancyra and openly denounced him for abandoning the Christian faith. The sources describe Gemellus as an honoured citizen of Ancyra, though they identify his origin as Paphlagonia. He is said to have continued reviling the emperor even under torture.

The dates given for these events differ slightly among the sources: the Prologue of Ohrid places the martyrdom in 361, while other accounts give 362, near the start of Julian's reign (361-363).

Tortures and Death

The OCA synaxarion relates that Gemellus endured a series of cruel torments. A red-hot iron belt was placed around his waist; the tortures were said to have continued as his captors moved toward Edessa in Mesopotamia, where he was stretched out and his limbs pierced with wooden stakes, then hung on a post and mutilated. By tradition, after a priest baptized him his wounds were healed, and on hearing of this Julian ordered that he be crucified.

Gemellus is said by tradition to have been the last Christian martyr put to death by crucifixion. The Prologue of Ohrid relates that during his crucifixion a heavenly voice proclaimed his blessedness.

Veneration

A church dedicated to Saint Gemellus is recorded as having stood at Sykeon, a village on the Siberis River in Asia Minor. His feast is kept on December 10.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints