E03171: The Greek 'epic' Martyrdom of *Athenogenes of Pedachthoe (bishop and martyr, S00065), of the 6th/8th c., recounts in an abridged and significantly altered way the story of the saint known from his more extensive and probably earlier martyrdom account (E02993). It describes his shrine as a monastery. Probably written at Pedachthoe (northern Asia Minor).

Martyrdom of Athenogenes of Pedachthoe (BHG 197)

Summary

1. Under Diocletian, a great persecution against Christians takes place. The provincial governor Philemarchos in Sebasteia orders the people to offer sacrifice, but the crowd responds that they are Christians and refuse to sacrifice. Many are tortured and become martyrs.

2. A certain cornicularius Nikolaos reports to the governor about Athenogenes, the chorepiskopos, who lives in a monastery at Pedachthoe. Soldiers are sent, but, as they do not find Athenogenes, they arrest his disciples and take them to Sebasteia. The governor demands to have their leader as well.

3. The saint returns to the monastery and is distressed at the absence of his disciples. He prays by the cross of the church, and is visited by a deer which kisses his hands. Someone comes and tells him that the disciples have been arrested to be martyred, and he gives thanks to God for this.

4. Athenogenes blesses his deer and goes to Sebasteia, where he appears before the praetorium reproaching the tyrant. He is put in jail, where he meets and blesses his disciples.

5. Next day, the tyrant orders them all to offer sacrifice, threatening them with torture and death. They remain steadfast.

6. The ten disciples are tortured and put to death by the sword.

7. Athenogenes is also tortured, and the voice of God is heard from heaven, encouraging him.

8. At the instigation of his assistant, Philippos, Philemarchos condemns Athenogenes to death by the sword. Athenogenes requests to be taken to his monastery for execution. En route, he sings Psalms and is met by the deer which he blesses, predicting that its offspring will be consumed by the attendants at his festival.

9. When they reach the monastery, he kneels and requests that those celebrating his memory and invoking God through his intercession be granted blessing and the fulfilment of every petition, whether it concerns sins, need, a fearsome trial, a bad dream or any other occasion. God replies, promising to relieve every need and forgive every sin of those who celebrate the memory or read the martyrdom account of Athenogenes at home. The martyrs will be the helpers of widows and orphans, strangers, the poor, the sick, and those possessed by evil spirits.

10. Athenogenes was beheaded on 17 July in Pedachthoe. The deer appears every year at the festival, offering its young before the altar, while the gospel is being read.

Summary: Efthymios Rizos.