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July 9: Agios Pagratios, Bishop of Tauromeni celebratestranslated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

Today, the Church honors the memory of the Hieromartyr bishops Pagratios Tauromenios and Methodios Lampis of Crete, as well as the martyrs Andrew and Provo. Pancratius came from Antioch of martyred Syria. He was taught Christianity by the apostle Peter, who ordained him bishop of Tauromeni. On his way to his episcopal district, he met two sailors, Romulus and Lykaonides, who, after lovingly accepting his spiritual admonitions, also believed and confessed Christ the Savior as the God-Man Redeemer.

After this solemn event, Saint Pangratios went to Sicily, where with the orthodox faith, fiery preaching and love for God and people, he eliminated idolatry and managed to baptize even the ruler of the region, Boniface, a Christian. In fact, Saint Pangratios motivated the ruler and, with enthusiasm and love for the Church, he built a magnificent church for the needs of the Christians.

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Maria Ionescu

Saint Pancratius even baptized the governor Boniface after he convinced two sailors on the way. This shows the power of his sermon. In our parish, it would be difficult to convince a mayor to build a church, let alone a pagan leader.

Пётр Семёнов

It is interesting how Pancratius, on his way to Sicily, managed to convert two sailors, Romulus and Lycaonidas. And then also the ruler. In Novosibirsk, if we could persuade such a governor to go to a church, it would be a miracle. Thanks for the article, it’s useful to read about such saints.

Антон Виноградов

It is interesting that Pancratius, on the way to Sicily, managed to convert two sailors - Romulus and Lycaonidas - and then the ruler Bonifatius. Here in Krasnodar, even urgently asking someone from the administration to help with the repair of a temple can be difficult, but here an entire pagan ruler built a temple. Thanks for the article, I enjoyed reading it.

Dragan Milošević

Well, it is interesting how on the way, before he arrived in Sicily, he converted those two sailors, Romulus and Lycaonides. And then he forced the ruler Boniface himself to build a church. Here in Niš, it is unlikely that a chief would agree to help with the roof of the church, let alone build a new one. Thanks for the text.

George Collins

The part about Pankratios converting the two sailors Romylos and Lykaonides on the way to Sicily, then getting the pagan governor Boniface to build a whole church, really stuck with me. Makes you think how straightforward his preaching must have been. In our parish we struggle to get folks to show up for choir practice, let alone something like that.

Thomas Johnson

The bit about Pankratios converting the two sailors Romylos and Lykaonides on the road to Sicily before he even got there really caught my eye. Then convincing the pagan governor Boniface to build a proper church on top of it – that’s the sort of thing you read and think our parish council meetings would be a lot shorter if we had that kind of gift. Thanks for posting the life of the saint.

Ilie Stoica

Yes, Maria, it was exactly the part with the two sailors that caught my attention too – they believed on the spot after listening to it. Here it is really more complicated with the authorities, but at least the mayor of my neighborhood came to the consecration of the chapel at the hospital last year. Do you think a personal life example would help more than a long sermon?