Hieromartyr4th century

Hieromartyr Kindeos the Presbyter of Pamphylia

died c. 284–305 (during the reign of Diocletian)

Also known as Kindeus · Cindeus

A priest of Talmenia in Pamphylia who preached Christ boldly during the persecution of Diocletian and was burned for the faith.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Hieromartyr Kindeos, Presbyter of Pamphylia

Life

Kindeos (also rendered Cindeus or Kindeus) was a Christian priest of Pamphylia in Asia Minor who was martyred by fire during the persecution of the Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284–305). He served the village of Talmenia, sometimes called Talmenia Side, and labored to spread the Gospel until he was denounced to the civil authorities.

The synaxarion accounts present him as a bold confessor who, brought before the governor, openly professed Christ and accepted a death by burning. The Orthodox Church commemorates him as a Hieromartyr — the designation reserved for ordained clergy who died for the faith — on July 11.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God;
by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith,
even to the shedding of your blood.
Hieromartyr Kindeos, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

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

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

284–305Reign of DiocletianKindeos lives and ministers during the reign of the emperor Diocletian, a period of organized persecution of Christians.
c. 284–305Ministry in TalmeniaAs a presbyter in Talmenia (Talmenia Side) in Pamphylia, Kindeos preaches the Gospel and is denounced to the authorities.
c. 284–305Martyrdom by fireBrought before the governor and professing Christ, Kindeos is put to death by burning; tradition records that he continued to teach from within the flames.
July 11Feast dayThe Church commemorates the Hieromartyr Kindeos the Presbyter of Pamphylia.

Contributions & Legacy

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Life and Ministry

According to the Synaxarion, Kindeos came from Talmenia Side in the region of Pamphylia, with ancestry traced to Oumanada. He lived under the emperor Diocletian, whose reign (284–305) saw an organized persecution of Christians across the empire. As a presbyter serving the village of Talmenia, Kindeos worked tirelessly to preach the message of the Gospel.

His preaching led to his being denounced to the civil authority. The OCA Synaxarion identifies the eparch as the one to whom he was reported; the fuller Greek synaxarion account names the governor before whom he was brought as Stratonikos, before whom Kindeos boldly professed Christ.

Martyrdom

The synaxarion relates that, after his confession, the authorities nailed his feet into iron shoes and forced him to run toward what the account calls 'the sacred door.' By tradition, Kindeos purchased wood from a laborer for thirty copper pieces so that the pagans could not use their own material for his execution, and he carried the wood himself and entered the fire willingly.

The account further relates that from within the flames he continued to teach, persuading onlookers in the faith of Christ without being harmed by them. It tells that when wind, darkness, thunder, and lightning arose, his prayer brought calm and starlight, after which he gave up his spirit to God. A commemorative verse preserved with his life reads, in paraphrase, that though the fire was unworthy to consume him entirely, Kindeos was nonetheless saved and so died.

Burial and Relics

The Greek synaxarion account relates that a pagan priest who witnessed these events was converted to Christianity and persuaded his wife to believe as well; she is said to have arranged the saint's burial with myrrh and clean linens.

By tradition, a deacon named Orestes, from Oumanada, transported Kindeos's remains and head — the account using the image of being 'lifted up in the air like Habakkuk' — and completed the journey in a single day, after which priests properly enshrined the relics.

Identity and Commemoration

A martyr named Kindeos also appears among the Holy Nine Martyrs of Perge in Pamphylia, commemorated on August 1, who suffered under Diocletian around the year 300. Whether that figure is the same person as the July 11 Hieromartyr Kindeos the Presbyter is uncertain; the primary commemoration of the presbyter of Talmenia is kept on July 11.

His feast is listed in the Orthodox calendar, where OrthodoxWiki records him for July 11 as 'Hieromartyr Cindeus the Presbyter of Pamphylia.'

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