Maximian, the governor of Cilicia, once organized a religious feast in Pompeiopolis in honor of the pagan faith. Saint Sozon, a Christian from Lycaonia, received a vision calling him to go there and bear witness to his faith.
Upon arriving in the city and seeing the golden idol placed in a prominent position, the saint broke off the statue’s right hand and began distributing the gold to the poor. He then appeared before the governor and confessed his actions, explaining that the idol was not the true God.
As a result, he was subjected to severe torture. He was hung from a tree and brutally beaten. Despite his wounds and the suffering of his body, the saint never ceased glorifying God until he surrendered his spirit.
When his body was thrown into the fire, a flash of lightning illuminated the area, and a heavy rain extinguished the flames, leaving his body unharmed. As soon as darkness fell, the faithful secretly retrieved and cleansed his holy relic, from which miraculous healings soon began to occur.
At the site of his martyrdom, a church was later built in honor and glory of the Holy Trinity.
