Agios Kallinikos
Date of celebration: 29/07/2020
Saint Kallinikos came from Cilicia. He was pious and virtuous and had as his life’s work the catechism of the Gentiles with the aim of their salvation. When he arrived in Egypt, fanatical pagans rose up against him, arrested him and brought him to the ruler Sacerdon.
He pretended to be sorry, and in order to soften Callinicus’s mind, he allegedly mentioned incidents of formerly brave Christians who, when they saw the cruel sufferings, denied their faith.
Kallinikos, perceiving the ruler’s hypocrisy, scoffed and said to him: “Do not delay, my dear, to experience the power with which Christ arms His true believers.
Quickly prepare all your infernal instruments, fire, swords, wheels, knives, whips and whatever other cruel torture you have. All these and other more and harsher tortures I desire for the love of Christ”. Indeed, the prefect whipped him severely. He put shoes on him, which had nails on them, and made him run to the city of Gangra, a distance of eighty stadia.
She tore his flesh with iron claws, and as he was half dead, tied him behind a wild horse, which dragged him for many miles. Such was the rage of the prefect, that before Kallinikos breathed his last, he threw him into the fire. Thus he gloriously took the crown of martyrdom. And his meeting took place near the bridge of Justinian, and near a place called Petrion.
