Страдание святых мучеников Трофима и Фала

In the city of Laodicea (not the one located in Syria, but located in Caria 1963), between the Asia Minor rivers: Lykos and Meander, there were two priests - brothers in the flesh - Trophimus and Phalos. They were originally from Caria, from the city of Stratonika. Both were men of faith and preachers of the word of God. Wanting to convert the souls of the lost to the path of salvation, they argued with the Greeks and tirelessly reproached their wickedness. One day, the wicked idolaters, unable to tolerate the reproofs of the saints, took them both and imprisoned them. At that time, during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian, the hegemon Asklipiodotus arrived in Caria and settled in a city called Bophorus, located not far from Laodicea. The chief of the military guard in Laodicea sent to tell the hegemon about two Christian priests taken into custody and asked what to do with them. He received the answer - to stone both of them. When the holy martyrs Trophimus and Fal were brought out to be killed, Christians surrounded them and protected them from stones, so that not a single stone thrown at them harmed them; on the contrary, those who threw stones, against their will, hit themselves with them. Having worked fruitlessly for a long time and exhausted, the tormentors stopped throwing stones. Having learned about this, the chief of the military guard released both saints. They continued to teach everyone the fearless faith of Christ and expose the unbelief of the Greeks. After some time, the mayors again took them into custody and sent them to the hegemon in the city of Bofor, saying: “We, at your command, stoned these people, but the stones did not touch them; therefore we send them to you.” The hegemon ordered the saints to be hanged and their bodies tormented without mercy with a sharp iron. Being tormented, they cried out in a loud voice: - We are Christians! We will not worship idols or obey the wicked command of the kings of the earth! After all these torments, the hegemon condemned them to crucifixion, saying: - Let them be crucified, like the deceiver in whom they believe. Then the saints were taken out of the city to the place where crosses were prepared for them. They walked with joy, thanking and praising God for the fact that He makes them worthy to die such a death and through this likens their suffering to the most pure Passion and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. They were followed by many people - husbands and wives who wanted to see their death. When they were brought to the crosses, some of the Christians brought them some food and begged them to taste it. Not wanting to upset those who asked, they tasted a little of what was brought; the rest was distributed to those around them. They were then nailed to crosses with iron nails and crucified in the likeness of the Lord Jesus. Hanging on the cross, they spoke a lot to the people, teaching them the knowledge of God and holy faith. After this, crying and outcry arose among the people: some reproached the hegemon for his hardness of heart, for the fact that he had put innocent men to such a cruel death. Others cried: – Glory to You, God, because the power of Jesus has proven itself in our times! A certain Jewish woman bowed to the saints hanging on the cross and exclaimed: – Blessed are the mothers who gave birth to these people! Their mother stood here, looking with courage at the suffering of her two sons. Many of those present collected the holy blood dripping from the saints, and some dipped their handkerchiefs in the blood, while others dipped their rings to heal their illnesses - mental and physical. The martyrs of Christ, Trophim and Fal, having prayed to God, betrayed their holy souls to Him, on the month of March, on the 16th day; For their burial, the faithful prepared clean shrouds and fragrant aromas. The prison guard also came to the place of torment and, bowing to the martyrs of Christ, confessed before all the people that he had seen two holy martyrs ascending to heaven, and three Angels accompanying them and talking with them. After that, the people went to the hegemon and asked him to order the holy bodies of the martyrs to be removed from the crosses and to allow them to be buried. The hegemon, having heard this request, at first became angry and ordered his soldiers to beat those who came. But after some time he calmed down and said that whoever wants can take the bodies of the dead. After that, the saints were taken down from the cross and laid in a new tomb. At the same time, a dispute arose between Christians about in what place these holy bodies should be given an honest burial - some wanted here, others there. Evening came. The people did not leave the bodies of the holy martyrs, but spent the whole night near them with burning candles and singing psalms. When morning came, the hegemon's wife brought incense and aromas and poured them on the bodies of the holy martyrs. Then she placed a precious covering on the coffin and said publicly: “That night I saw in a dream these men, sent by God together with the Angels to punish my husband for the innocent murder of these sufferers. She said many other things, reproaching her husband for cruelty and unmercifulness. The mother of the holy martyrs and two honest men, Zosima and Artemy, fellow citizens of the holy martyrs, took the honest coffin with their holy bodies and brought it to the city of Stratonik, where they buried the saints with honor. Meanwhile, the day was approaching on which the wicked idolaters celebrated the birth of Diocletian. The hegemon, having come to Laodicea, organized a great celebration here in honor of his wicked king. But he was suddenly overtaken by God’s punishment for the innocently shed blood of the holy martyrs: he suddenly fell to the ground and tossed about like one possessed, trembling with all his limbs. All who were here and saw this were filled with great fear. – Where are the other gods and goddesses? Let them come and help me! - It was in vain that I worshiped them! So now I surrender to eternal fire, sent from God who lives in heaven and His servants, Trophimus and Fal. As he spoke, he shouted in a loud voice, so that his cry could be heard everywhere. From the severity of his torment, he began to tear his body with his teeth and bite his tongue and, suffering like this, gave up his accursed soul. The tormentor, with bitter weeping, went to his wicked gods to suffer in hell; The holy martyrs Trofimus and Fal joyfully departed to the Lord and their God to reign forever in heaven, standing before the most luminous throne of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory forever. Amen 1967. Kariye is a province of Asia Minor, bordering on Lydia in the north and Phrygia in the east. Zeus (or Jupiter) was revered by the Greeks and Romans as the main god, the father of gods and people, the ruler of heaven and earth, thunder and lightning, winds and rains. Heraclius (or Hercules, Hercules) is a god who, according to the pagans, possessed great physical strength and who, as Greek mythology tells us, accomplished many different kinds of feats, such as defeating the Lion of Cithaeron, etc. Hermes (or Mercury) is a pagan god, according to the legends of Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Maia, daughter of Atlas, born on the Arcadian mountain Cyllene. His distinctive feature in Greek mythology is his cunning and resourcefulness. The holy martyrs Trophimus and Phalus died around the year 300. You might be interested in: