When Leo the Isaurian ascended to the throne of the Greek kingdom, he raised a persecution against the Holy Church, promoting the iconoclastic heresy, according to which holy icons were regarded as idols. Leo ordered the destruction of holy icons, and those who did not share his heretical delusions were subjected to torture and exile. The Most Holy Patriarch of Constantinople, Germanus, was deposed for opposing the king, and an heretic named Anastasius was appointed in his place. Many pious Christians rose against the heresy and received the martyr's crown. In Constantinople, at the Copper Gates, there was an image of the Savior, which the king and the patriarch ordered to be removed. The people, outraged by this, killed the soldiers who attempted to carry out the order. In response, the king sent troops, who killed many people. Among those captured alive were noble icon veneration supporters: Julian, Marcian, John, Jacob, Alexius, Dimitri, Phocas, Peter, and Leontius. They were subjected to cruel tortures and imprisoned for eighty days. Strengthened by the power of Christ, the holy martyrs bravely endured their sufferings. The tormentor ordered their faces to be burned with hot iron, and then to be killed by the sword. A noble woman, Maria Patrician, was also beheaded for her reverent veneration of icons. The bodies of the holy martyrs were thrown into the sea. The Venerable Theodosia, a black-robed nun, who participated in overturning the ladder, received the martyr's crown before the aforementioned saints. Her memory is celebrated on May 29. All the holy martyrs who suffered for the icon of the Savior appeared before Christ, our God, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
