At that time, Saint Theopemptos was arrested and brought to trial. He boldly declared that the idols they worshipped were not true gods and refused to offer sacrifices to them. As a result, he was thrown into a blazing furnace. However, he emerged unharmed, which terrified the emperor.
Unwilling to believe what he had witnessed, Diocletian ordered a dog to be thrown into the fire to test whether the flames were truly lethal. The animal died instantly. After this, the saint was imprisoned for 22 days without food or water, yet by the power of God he remained alive. When he was subjected to further tortures, he continued to confess his faith and was repeatedly healed in a miraculous way from every injury.
Enraged, the emperor summoned the magician Saint Theonas. Witnessing the miracles that had taken place, Theonas himself came to believe in Christ and was baptized. However, when he refused to offer sacrifices to the idols, he too was tortured.
Saint Theopemptos was eventually beheaded after confessing his faith in the Holy Trinity. Theonas was thrown into a pit and buried alive, thus receiving a martyr’s death.
