Day of Remembrance of the Hieromartyr Pankratius, Bishop of Tauromenia (22/02)

The Hieromartyr Pancratius, Bishop of Tauromenia, was born at the time when our Lord Jesus Christ lived on earth.

Pancratius' parents were from Antioch. Hearing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Father Pancratius, taking his young son with him, went to Jerusalem to see the great Teacher in person. He was shocked by miracles, and when he heard the Divine teaching, he believed in Christ as the Son of God. He became close to the Lord's disciples, especially the Holy Apostle Peter. Since then, the young man Pankratius became known to the Holy Apostle Peter.

After the Ascension of the Savior, one of the apostles came to Antioch and baptized the parents of Pancratius and their entire home. When Pancratius' parents died, he left his estate for the Pontic Mountains and began to live in a cave, spending his days in prayer and deep spiritual reflection. The Holy Apostle Peter, once passing through those places, met Pancratius in Pontus, took him with him to Antioch, and then to Cilicia, where the Holy Apostle Paul was located. There, the holy apostles Peter and Paul consecrated Pancratius bishop of the Sicilian city of Tauromenia.

Saint Pancratius worked hard on the Christian enlightenment of the people. Within one month, he built a temple where he performed services. The number of believers grew rapidly, and soon almost all the inhabitants of Tauromenia and the surrounding cities accepted the Christian faith.

For many years, Saint Pancratius peacefully ruled his flock. One day the pagans rebelled against the saint and, choosing the right time, suddenly attacked him and stoned him. This is how St. Pankratius ended his life as a martyr. The relics of the saint rest in the temple named after him, in Rome.

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