The holy martyrs Esperos, Zoe, and their sons, Kyriakos and Theodulos, were taken into slavery by a noble Roman, Catullus, and his wife, Petradia. They were a deeply pious family. Seeing the idolatry of their masters, they did not even want to eat the food that was offered to them, fearing that their souls would be defiled.
Saint Zoe distributed food to the poor, while their sons, wishing to stay away from paganism, were ready to embrace a martyr’s death for Christ. They boldly confessed their faith before Catullus, who was astonished by their courage.
During the celebration of the birth of Catullus’s son, Saint Zoe, refusing to partake in the food offered, threw the meat to the dogs and poured the wine onto the ground. Enraged, Catullus ordered that Esperos, Zoe, and their sons be brought before him. The saints, fearless in the face of torture, openly confessed their faith in Christ.
Catullus subjected them to cruel torments, but the saints felt no pain, sustained by the Divine Grace. Finally, they were thrown into the fire, where they praised the Lord and peacefully surrendered their souls to Him. Miraculously, their bodies remained unharmed, while their souls were received into Heaven.
Their martyrdom took place during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, on May 2. Catullus, seeing their incorrupt bodies, was struck with amazement. Thus, the saints, who suffered for Christ, received eternal joy in the Kingdom of God.
