Memory of St. Martyr Audactus and his daughter Callisthene

Today, October 4, our Church commemorates St. Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens and member of the Council of the Areopagus like Saint Dionysius, whose feast was celebrated yesterday. Our Church also honours St. Martyr Audactus and his daughter Callisthene.

Audactus was originally from Ephesus and was appointed eparch by Emperor Maximian. When Maximian asked Callisthene, the daughter of Audactus, to be his wife, her father did not want to give her to a pagan. Therefore, after the emperor’s envoys seized Audactus’ possessions, they banished him to Melitene, where he was beheaded.

His daughter, Callisthene, wore men’s clothes and hid somewhere in Nicomedia. Later she went to Thrace, where she stayed with a hospitable family. The Saint healed their blind daughter, and the girl’s parents, who considered Callisthene to be a man, asked him to marry her. So, St. Callisthene revealed the truth, and they glorified God all together. Then, Callisthene left to find more exercise and humility.

Later, she met Constantia, Sister of Constantine the Great. Thus, she managed to take back her father’s property and also to transfer his relic from Melitene to Ephesus to a church she built in his…