Reviewed entry
MartyrPre-Nicene

Martyrs Straton Philip, Eutychian, and Cyprian of Nicomedia

Died c. 303

Also known as Straton · Philip · Eutychian · Cyprian

Four Christians who rebuked idol-worship at the circus, brought others to Christ, and suffered martyrdom at Nicomedia.

August 17New Calendar
Feast Day
August 30Old Calendar
Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Straton, Philip, Eutychian, and Cyprian of Nicomedia

Life

Straton, Philip, Eutychian, and Cyprian were four Christians who suffered martyrdom at Nicomedia, traditionally dated to around 303, during the persecutions of the early fourth century.

According to the synaxarion accounts, they visited the local circus and used the occasion to teach the assembled crowds to abandon idol-worship, converting many pagans to Christ. When the authorities noticed that citizens were leaving the circus, the four men were summoned and interrogated, and they openly confessed their Christian faith before the governor.

They are commemorated together on August 17 and are kept as a single named group.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide
TroparionTone 4

Your holy martyrs O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!

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

Contributions & Legacy

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Martyrdom

The synaxarion relates that the four men preached against idolatry to the crowds gathered at the circus, drawing many pagans away from their idols and to Christ. When the governor observed citizens abandoning the circus, he became alarmed and had the four summoned for interrogation.

Questioned by the governor, they remained steadfast and declared their Christian convictions. The accounts relate that they were first given over to wild beasts to be devoured, but the animals refused to harm them. They subsequently endured torture and were thrown into a fire, in which they died as martyrs for Christ.

Source Coverage

These four martyrs are genuinely obscure pre-Nicene figures with limited external documentation. The most detailed accounts are the calendar listings of the Orthodox Church in America and the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (holytrinityorthodox.com); OrthodoxWiki lists the group on its August 17 page without additional biographical detail, and no dedicated encyclopedia article or further hagiographical study was located.

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