Saints Probos, Tarachos and Andronikos
Date of celebration: 12/10
Saints Probos, Tarachos and Andronikos were martyred in the persecution against the Church, under Diocletian (284 – 304 AD) and Flavian, ruler of Cilicia. Probus was from Pamphylia, Andronikos from Ephesus and Tarachus from Illyria. All three were soldiers, truly pious and thoroughly versed in the Bible. They were arrested by the prefect of Tarsus, Maxentius, while they were in the desert. When, therefore, they presented themselves before him, all three courageous soldiers of Christ gave brave answers.
First the old Tarachus said: “Don’t see my old age, king. My physical powers may have declined, but the prime of the soul remains intact. Therefore, all the suffering and countless deaths will not disgrace even the smallest soldier of Christ”. Then, in turn, Probus said: “I am a Christian and nothing draws me so much as to suffer for Christ and to shed my blood for Him.” Finally, Andronikos’ answer was also brave:
“Use, he said, as many tortures as you like. My blood may all be gone, but the blood from Andronikos will not be missing, even if it were cut into a thousand pieces.” Maxentius, thunderstruck by the answers, ordered that the head of Tarachus be scraped off and the eyes of the other two be put out. Finally, not tolerating such humiliation, he beheaded them.
