Temple at the Halmyris Monastery in Tulcea: Two hierarchs served at the place of martyrdom of Saints Epictetus and Astiontranslated

Archbishop Cassian of Lower Danube and Bishop Visarion of Tulcea celebrated the Holy Liturgy at the Tulcean Halmyris Monastery on Wednesday, on the occasion of the patron saint dedicated to Saints Epictetus and Astion.

His Holiness Father Cassian emphasized the role that the testimony of the two holy martyrs had in the spread of the Christian faith, "through which up to 1,000 people from this city were converted."

"The places sanctified by the blood of the martyrs, especially here, since the 3rd century, the place of the passion of Saints Epictetus and Astion in a prosperous locality, Halmyris, teach us several aspects, including the healing of many sick people," His Eminence told Trinitas TV.

The Archbishop of Lower Danube also mentioned the conversion of Saint Astion's parents: "It is the first news about a family, father and mother, who, in front of the holy relics of their holy son, received catechism and baptism from a priest, and thus a new family was added to the place of martyrdom."

"We have preserved this in the Holy Sacrament of Marriage, where the faithfulness of the martyrs to Christ is always remembered, as the basis of the faithfulness of husbands in the family and the love for their children"....