Nine Christians of differing ages and walks of life who, in a time of persecution at Cyzicus, openly confessed Christ together and were martyred for refusing to sacrifice to idols.
The Holy, Glorious Nine Martyrs at Cyzicus
The Nine Martyrs at Cyzicus were a group of Christians put to death together during the persecutions of the late third century in the city of Cyzicus, a port on the coast of the Dardanelles (the Hellespont) in Asia Minor. They are recorded by name as Thaumasius, Theognes, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemas, Magnus, Theodotus, and Philemon, and are commemorated jointly as a single named group.
According to their account, the nine came from differing ages and walks of life — soldiers, countryfolk, city dwellers, and clergy among them — but together confessed Christ openly and refused to take part in pagan sacrifice. They are venerated as martyrs and are commemorated on April 29 (with an associated date of April 28 in the database record).
The steadfast and most radiant Nine Martyrs,
confessing the three-sunned God at His judgment seat they cried out:
“We offer to You our blood, our souls, and our bodies, as an unblemished sacrifice, O Master.”
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
By Divine command, the Holy Nine Martyrs from various cities were united in a single alliance, and courageously suffered martyrdom for Christ;
by your patience, the invisible enemy was defeated,
the wicked princes and tormentors were put to shame,
the spiritual fire of love for God was kindled, and the material fire which tormented you was cooled.
Therefore, grace has been given unto you by Christ God to heal the plague,
and we pray that you will save us from it, and from other afflictions, by your protection.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Cyzicus lay on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara near the Dardanelles in Asia Minor. The synaxarion notes that Christianity had earlier been preached there, associating its introduction with the Apostle Paul, but by the late third century the city was still predominantly pagan. The nine are remembered specifically for confessing the faith publicly at a time when doing so carried the penalty of death.
Following the end of persecution, a church was built at Cyzicus to house the relics of the martyrs, which the tradition describes as incorrupt. By tradition the site became associated with healings, the sources relating that the sick were cured and those of disturbed mind restored.
In Russia a monastery dedicated to the Nine Martyrs was later founded near the city of Kazan. The OrthodoxWiki account dates this foundation to 1691 and connects it with Metropolitan Adrian and with relief sought from local fever outbreaks; the OCA account attributes the monastery to the hierodeacon Stephen, who is said to have brought relics from Palestine. The sources differ on these details.
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