Presbyter
During the reign of Diocletian, a great persecution of Christians began. The military commander Patricius came to the region of Laodicea, where Bishop Sisinius and Saint Artemon had burned the idols in the temple of Artemis. When Patricius arrived in the city, he offered a sacrifice to Apollo and forbade the practice of Christianity. However, when he attempted to sacrifice to Artemis, he discovered that the idols had been destroyed. Learning that Christians were responsible for this desecration, he decided to execute them. Yet, as he approached the church, he was struck by illness. Recognizing the power of the God of the Christians, he recovered and traveled to Caesarea, where he encountered Saint Artemon, who had been captured and brought before him.
Enduring cruel tortures, Saint Artemon remained steadfast, placing his hope in God. He also performed a miracle in the temple of Asclepius, which only brought upon him further suffering. Patricius, unwilling to acknowledge the power of Jesus Christ, continued to torment the saint. In the end, however, he was punished, as he was cast into a cauldron of boiling tar, where he perished. Saint Artemon, strengthened by the grace of God, continued to preach and baptize pagans, among who there was priest Vitalis.
After these events, the saint received a command from God to leave the city and go to Asia, where he continued to heal the sick and convert many to Christianity. At the end of his life, Saint Artemon was arrested by pagans and, accepting a martyr’s death, departed to God, receiving the crown of sanctity.
