Cloud of Witnesses
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Martyr3rd century

Martyrs Christodoula & Her Sons

3rd century

Also known as Urban, Prilidian, Epolonios

A mother martyred with her three sons — Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonios (251)

September 4New Calendar
Feast Day
September 17Old Calendar
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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonios, and their Mother Christodoula

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Life

Christodoula and her three young sons, Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonios, were martyred at Antioch together with the hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of that city, during the persecution under the emperor Decius. The three boys had been raised by Bishop Babylas as his spiritual children, instructed by him in the Christian faith, while their mother, Christodoula, is remembered as an honorable Christian woman who suffered with them.

When the emperor pressed the children and their mother to renounce Christ, they refused. The boys were beaten with strokes counted to their ages, and the family was put to death along with the bishop. They are commemorated on September 4.

Timeline3 momentsReadHide
  1. 3rd centuryFormation under BabylasThe three brothers were raised and instructed in the Christian faith by Babylas, bishop of Antioch, as his spiritual children; their mother was the Christian woman Christodoula.
  2. reign of Decius (249–251)Arrest and interrogationDuring the persecution under Decius, the children and their mother were pressed to renounce Christ but refused. The boys were scourged, each with a number of blows counted to his age.
  3. reign of Decius (249–251)Martyrdom at AntiochTogether with Bishop Babylas, the children and their mother were put to death for their confession of Christ.

Contributions & Legacy

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The Family and Bishop Babylas

The three brothers, Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonios, were the spiritual children of Babylas, bishop of Antioch, who had raised them in piety and taught them the Christian faith; their mother, Christodoula, is remembered as an honorable Christian woman who shared in their confession. The conflict that led to their martyrdom arose when Babylas, serving the Divine Liturgy, barred the pagan emperor from entering the church, declaring that one who would rise up against God and seek to desecrate His sanctuary was not worthy of respect.

Confession and Martyrdom

During the persecution under Decius, the emperor tried by various means to persuade the youths and their mother Christodoula to renounce Christ, but in vain. The children were scourged, each receiving a number of blows corresponding to his age, the eldest twelve, and the others fewer in turn. Refusing to yield, the family was put to death together with Bishop Babylas, the accounts relating that they were condemned to be burned and then beheaded. The Church commemorates them, with the hieromartyr Babylas, on September 4.

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Bishop of Antioch and hieromartyr who raised the three boys in the faith and was martyred with the family; commemorated with them on September 4.
Hieromartyr Babylasof Antioch
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Sources: Synaxarion
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ChristodoulaMotherCommemorated within this group
UrbanSonCommemorated within this group
PrilidianSonCommemorated within this group
EpoloniosSonThe three sons martyred with their mother.Commemorated within this group