Saint Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arian, and Theotychus suffered for their faith in Egypt, in the city of Antinoe, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284–305). Saint Arian, before his conversion to the Christian faith, was a persecutor of Christians, including the martyrs Apollonius and Philemon. The martyr Apollonius, fearing suffering, asked the pagan musician Philemon to dress in his clothes and offer a sacrifice to the idols. However, Saint Philemon confessed himself a Christian. Saint Apollonius repented and also confessed Christ. After tortures, both martyrs were executed. Their torturer Arian, healing his wounded eye with dust from Philemon's grave, repented, converted to the Christian faith, and was baptized along with his entire household and bodyguards. For their love for Christ, they voluntarily went to sufferings and were put to death. Among the bodyguards, the elder was the martyr Theotychus, commemorated together with the other saints. The martyrs Philemon and Apollonius died on March 16, 286, and the martyrs Arian and Theotychus on March 4, 287.
