Martyr4th century

Martyr Caluf of Egypt

Also known as Caluf the Egyptian

An Egyptian Christian of the Thebaid who confessed Christ before the authorities and, after enduring torture, received the crown of martyrdom.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyr Caluf of Egypt

Life

Caluf was an Egyptian Christian from the city of Thebes in the Thebaid, the region of Upper Egypt. The synaxarion places him in the early fourth century, among the martyrs of the persecution waged under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian.

Arrested for his confession of Christ, he was brought before the prefect of the city. He was hung head downward and cruelly beaten, declaring under his sufferings that he endured all things in expectation of the life to come. Untied and pressed to sacrifice to the idols, he refused; he was then cast into a fire and so gave up his soul to God, by the account in the year 303. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on May 19.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Caluf;
extinguishing the allure of false gods,
you enlighten the faithful,
always interceding for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

Your holy martyr Caluf, O Lord,
through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

early 4th centuryConfession at ThebesCaluf, a Christian of Thebes in the Thebaid of Upper Egypt, confessed his faith in Christ and was arrested and brought before the prefect of the city.
the trialTorture and steadfastnessHe was suspended head downward and severely beaten; under the torments he professed that he bore all things in the hope of the future life, and when urged to sacrifice to idols he refused.
303Martyrdom by fireCast into a fire for his refusal to deny Christ, Caluf surrendered his soul to God, by the account in the year 303.

Contributions & Legacy

1 contributionsReadHide

A martyr of the Thebaid

Caluf was an Egyptian Christian of the city of Thebes, in the Thebaid of Upper Egypt. The tradition assigns his martyrdom to the early fourth century, during the persecution of the Church under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, one of the fiercest of the imperial persecutions and one that fell with special severity on Egypt.

Seized for confessing Christ, he was brought before the prefect of the city. According to the account he was hung up head downward and beaten without mercy, and as he suffered he said that he endured everything in expectation of the life to come. When his torturers loosed him and demanded that he sacrifice to the idols, he would not consent; he was therefore thrown into a fire and gave up his soul, by the tradition in the year 303. The Orthodox Church keeps his memory on May 19.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints