Saint Claudius, The martyr
June 17, 2022
Saint Claudius, the martyr, was a kinsman of kings and a victor in battle. This Saint fought a good fight and received an honorable crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens before his death on June 18. He rejected the glory of this fleeting world and inherited the everlasting heavenly grace.
The father of this Saint was the brother of Numerianus, Emperor of Rome, and his name was ‘Abtelmawos (Ptolemy). The appearance of this Saint Claudius was very goodly, like that of Joseph, the son of Jacob-Israel. He was mighty in battle, and he was applauded more than any other young man in Antioch; he was beloved by everyone because of his strength and goodliness. Because the people of Antioch loved him so greatly they painted a picture of him on the doors of the city. They also painted pictures of his enemies fleeing vanquished before him. The Saint read many of the Books of the Church.
The Emperor of Rome then heard about Saint Claudius and he wrote to his father asking for him. Then, His father called upon him. When he arrived there the Emperor of Rome went out to meet him with his soldiers where all the men of the city he rejoiced in him. In those days, a great war broke out with the men of Kuez (Khuzistan) and the men of Armenia, Saint Clauidius marched against them, conquered, seized their king and broke them.
After this he returned to the city of Antioch, and he found that the Emperor Diocletian had denied our Lord Jesus Christ and was worshipping idols. Claudius had a friend called Victor, and he was the son of Hermanus. They were reciting at all times words of the Holy Scripture, which were beneficial for the salvation of their souls. They agreed to shed their blood for the sake of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Soon after, Satan appeared in the form of an old man, who pretended to be suffering grief, saying, “O my sons, you goodly young men, the sons of emperors, I am afraid on your account, and I grief for you. I advise you to make friends with this infidel emperor, and to cast incense to his gods and idols. When he command you to do this, do not transgress his command, but serve you Christ in your houses, for this emperor is strong, and mighty, and merciless.” But, Our Lord Jesus Christ made them understand that Satan speaking to them Satan. So, the saints, said to him, “O you who are filled with all manner of evil, and who are the father of lies, get away from us, for you always oppose the path of God.” Straightway the old man changed his appearance, and became like a black man. He then said to them, “Behold, I will go and stand before the emperor to make him to shed your blood.”
Satan went to Diocletian, and said to him, “If you do not kill Victor and Claudius they will rise up against you, kill and take your kingdom.” Therefore the Emperor sends to Saint Claudius, and called him. When Claudius came to him, the emperor asked to cast incense to his idols promising to give him his father’s office. But Claudius neither accepted his promise, nor submitted to his order. Now the emperor did not dare to speak to (threaten) Claudius in the city of Antioch, for Saint Claudius spoke boldly and fearlessly reviling him. Then, Romanus advised Diocletian to send Saint Claudius to the country of Egypt and to kill him there ordering, “He is a heretic like my son Victor.” The emperor wrote a letter to the governor of Antinoe, saying, “Claudius will accept nothing from us, and he will neither hearken to our words nor obey them. Persuade him with all your power to return to his allegiance to us. If he will not do so, cut off his head with the sword.”
When Saint Claudius heard of the emperor’s ordered to send him to Egypt, he commanded Sidrakos, his sister’s husband and committed her to his care. He embraced him and departed to the country of Egypt, together with the emperor’s envoys. At the time of His arrival in the presence of Arianus, the governor of Antinoe saw him and rose up in kissing his hand. He then entreated him, saying, “O my lord Claudius, do not this thing, and do not transgress the Emperor’s command.” They held converse together until Arianus became furious and filled with wrath; he drove the spear which he had in his hand into the saint, who delivered up his spirit straightway, received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens.
Certain believers came and took the body of Saint Claudius, swathed it with costly cloths laying it with the body of Saint Victor. The bodies remained thus until the end of the days of persecution. The mother of Saint Victor came to the city of Antinoe, and she made the bodies ready for burial. She carried them to the city of Antioch. They say, however, that the body of Saint Claudius rest now in the city of Asyut.
May the intercession of Saint Claudius be with us, Amen!
Source: The Ethiopian Syanaxarium page 564-565
