Hieromartyr Athenogenes and his Ten Disciples suffered for Christ during
the persecution of Christians in the city of Sebastea in Cappadocia. The governor Philomachos arranged a large festival in
honor of the pagan gods and called upon the citizens of Sebastea to offer sacrifice to the idols. Most of the inhabitants
of Sebastea were Christians, and refused to participate in the impious celebration. Soldiers were ordered to kill those who
resisted, and so many Christians received a martyr’s crown.
It came to the governor’s attention that Christianity was spreading because of the grace-filled preaching of
Bishop Athenogenes. Soldiers were ordered to find the Elder and arrest him. Bishop Athenogenes and ten of his disciples lived
in a small monastery not far from the city. The soldiers did not find the bishop there, so they arrested his disciples. The
governor ordered that they be bound with chains and thrown into prison.
Saint Athenogenes was arrested when he came to Sebastea to inform the judge that those who had been jailed
were innocent. While in prison, Saint Athenogenes encouraged his spiritual children for their impending struggle. Led forth
to trial, all the holy martyrs confessed themselves Christians and refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
After undergoing fierce tortures, the disciples of the holy bishop were beheaded.
After the execution of the disciples, the executioners were ordered to torture the bishop. Strengthened by the Lord, Saint
Athenogenes underwent the tortures with dignity. His only request was that he be executed in the monastery.
Taken to his own monastery, the saint gave thanks to God, and he rejoiced in the
sufferings that he had undergone for Him. Saint Athenogenes asked that the Lord would forgive the sins of all those who would
remember both him and his disciples.
The Lord granted the
saint to hear His Voice before death, announcing the promise given to the penitent thief: “Today you shall be with Me
in Paradise.” The hieromartyr willingly bent his neck beneath the sword.
