In Pamphylian Perga lived a pious woman Theoklia, who, after long prayers, gave birth to a son Calliopius. He was raised in the fear of God and, upon learning of the persecutions against Christians, fled to Cilicia. There, seeing a pagan festival, he refused to participate, for which he was captured and subjected to cruel tortures by the military commander Maximus. Saint Calliopius steadfastly endured his sufferings, affirming his faith in Christ and rejecting the worship of idols. His mother, learning of his sufferings, came to him in prison and supported him in prayers. After many tortures, the saint was crucified upside down, as he requested, so as not to be like Christ. He surrendered his spirit to God, and soon after, his mother also departed to the Lord. Both were buried together, and their memory is honored in the Church.
