Saint Pangratius, Bishop of Tauromenium, was born in Antioch. His father, having heard of Christ’s miracles, traveled to Jerusalem together with his son, believed in the true God, met the disciples of Jesus, and became especially close to the Apostle Peter. Having returned home and after the baptism of the entire family, the saint renounced his wealth and withdrew to a high mountain, desiring to live ascetically.
When the Apostle Peter later passed through those regions, he met Saint Pangratius and took him along on his journeys. They went to Antioch and then to Cilicia. Eventually, the saint was appointed bishop of Tauromenium, a city in Sicily.
Upon arriving there, he had to confront the pagans and the false demons worshipped by the local people. Gradually, he succeeded in destroying the statues and temples of Falcon, Lysson, and the other pagan deities. He worked miracles and healed the illnesses of those who came to him with faith. He also won the trust and admiration of the local ruler, Boniface, who believed in Christ and got baptized.
After many years of ministry, Saint Pangratius was stoned to death by followers of the Montanist heresy. Thus, he completed his life as a martyr, steadfast in faith and with spiritual clarity.
