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Martyrs Galaction and Epistemis of Emesa · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Thursday, november fifth, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember the martyrs Galactian and his wife Epistemus from the city of Emesa in Syria.
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  SPEAKER_00: There was once a wealthy couple named Cletophone and Leukippi who lived in Emisa.
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  SPEAKER_00: For a long time they had no children.
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  SPEAKER_00: They gave much gold to the pagan priests hoping for a child, but still remained childless.
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  SPEAKER_00: The city was ruled by Secundus, a Syrian appointed by the Roman Caesars.
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  SPEAKER_00: He was a cruel persecutor of Christians.
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  SPEAKER_00: To scare people, he ordered instruments of torture to be displayed in the streets.
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  SPEAKER_00: Even a small suspicion of being a Christian could lead to arrest and torture.
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  SPEAKER_00: Despite this, many Christians willingly surrendered themselves to suffer for Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: An old man named Onufrius lived in Emisa.
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  SPEAKER_00: Though he was a monk and priest, he wore rags and begged from house to house.
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  SPEAKER_00: When he saw a chance to turn people away from pagan beliefs, he preached about Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: One day, Onufrius visited Lukippi's home.
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  SPEAKER_00: He accepted alms from her and noticed she was sad.
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  SPEAKER_00: When he asked why, she told him about her sorrow over being childless.
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  SPEAKER_00: Onufrias comforted her and spoke about the one true God, his power and mercy, and how he answers the prayers of those who believe.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lukippi found hope and believed.
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  SPEAKER_00: She was baptized.
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  SPEAKER_00: Soon after she dreamed she would have a son who would follow Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: When the baby was born, she told her husband Cledophone and persuaded him to be baptized too.
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  SPEAKER_00: They named their son Galaction and raised him in the Christian faith, giving him a good education.
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  SPEAKER_00: Though he could have had a great career, Galaction wanted to live a quiet monastic life of prayer.
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  SPEAKER_00: When Galactian was twenty four, his father arranged a marriage for him to a beautiful woman named Episteme.
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  SPEAKER_00: Galaction did not oppose this, but the wedding was delayed.
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  SPEAKER_00: Visiting Epistami, Galactian shared his faith with her.
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  SPEAKER_00: She converted to Christ and he secretly baptized her.
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  SPEAKER_00: He also baptized one of her servants, Eutolmius.
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  SPEAKER_00: Galaction, Episteme, and Eutolmius decided to live as monks.
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  SPEAKER_00: They left the city and went to Mount Publian, where there were two monasteries, one for men and one for women.
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  SPEAKER_00: They brought tools to work because the monks and nuns there were old and weak.
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  SPEAKER_00: For years they lived in fasting, prayer, and hard work.
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  SPEAKER_00: One night Episteme had a vision.
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  SPEAKER_00: She and Galactian stood before a radiant king in a beautiful palace.
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  SPEAKER_00: The king gave them golden crowns.
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  SPEAKER_00: This was a sign of their coming martyrdom.
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  SPEAKER_00: The pagans found out about the monasteries and sent soldiers to capture the monks and nuns.
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  SPEAKER_00: The others hid in the hills, but Galactian stayed in his cell reading scripture.
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  SPEAKER_00: When Episteme saw soldiers taking Galaction away in chains, she asked the abbess to let her go with him.
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  SPEAKER_00: She wanted to suffer for Christ alongside her husband and teacher, the abbess gave her blessing.
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  SPEAKER_00: Galaction and Episteme endured terrible tortures.
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  SPEAKER_00: Their hands and legs were cut off, their tongues were cut out, and finally they were beheaded.
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  SPEAKER_00: Through it all they prayed and praised Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: Eutolmius secretly buried their bodies.
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  SPEAKER_00: Later, he wrote about their holy lives and their brave martyrdom so others would remember them.
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  SPEAKER_00: May we be inspired by their faith and courage to remain steadfast in Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord, help us to follow the example of Saints Galaction and Episteme.
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  SPEAKER_00: Give us strength to remain faithful in trials.
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  SPEAKER_00: Guide us in your love and peace.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.