Saint Athenagenes bishop of Pidachthoi and his Ten Disciples
Date of celebration: 16/07
Saint Athenagenes’ hometown was Sebasteia in Cappadocia. His education, his fervent faith, as well as his brave philanthropic action, made him bishop of Pidachthoi.
As a bishop, he was a bright spiritual lamp for his flock. In fact, he wanted so much to continue the work of the Gospel, that with special care he trained his most capable assistants. However, when the persecution took place under Diocletian, Athenagenes with ten of his disciples, Riginus, Maximinus, Patrophilus, Athenagenes, Antiochus, Ammon, Theophrastus, Cleonicus, Peter and Hesychius, were arrested by the ruler Philimachus , and after they all confessed Christ they were beheaded.
It is also worth mentioning that we owe the well-known overwhelming vesper hymn to Athenogenes, “Rejoicing light of holy glory, immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed, Jesus Christ, coming to the west of the sun, seeing light in the evening, we praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, God. You are worthy to be praised in all times, Son of God, the world glorifies you through life.
Which means: Jesus Christ, you who are the joyful light of the Immortal, Heavenly, Holy and blessed Father, after we have reached the setting of the sun and seen the evening light, we praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that is, the Triune God. It is worthy to praise you at every hour with melodious voices, Son of God, you who give life. That is why the world glorifies you.
