Hieromartyr Hypatius of Ephesus and Andrew the Presbyter

Hypatius, Bishop of Ephesus, and Andrew, a presbyter of the same city, were Orthodox clergy of Asia Minor who suffered during the first period of Byzantine iconoclasm in the eighth century. By tradition they were natives of Lycia and friends from childhood, who in adulthood took up distinct vocations: Hypatius pursued the monastic life as a strict ascetic before being consecrated Bishop of Ephesus, while Andrew served among the people as a priest and preacher of the faith. They are commemorated together on September 21.

Their martyrdom is set under the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717–741). When imperial policy turned against the veneration of holy icons and images were removed from the churches to be trampled and burned, the synaxarion relates that Hypatius and Andrew rose up in defence of icon veneration and urged their flock to remain faithful to Orthodox practice. According to the tradition, the emperor summoned the two clergy and arranged a disputation on the veneration of icons, in which they consistently maintained the Orthodox position.

After they refused to renounce their stand despite a prolonged imprisonment, they were subjected to severe tortures: they were beaten, the skin and hair were stripped from their heads, their beards were smeared with pitch and set alight, and holy icons were burned upon their heads. Having been led through the city in public humiliation, they were put to death. The tradition recorded in the Prologue of Ohrid places their beheading around the year 730. Their bodies were cast out to be devoured by dogs, but the faithful recovered and reverently buried them.