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| St. Therapon of Sardis (Feast Day - May 27) |
Verses
Scourged to death on behalf of the Master,
Therapon was anointed as a kindly healer.
Therapon was anointed as a kindly healer.
This Saint became a priest in the city of Sardis because of his excellent and virtuous conduct. Arrested by the ruler Valerian for teaching the faith of Christ, he was bound and endured punishments. After this he was brought bound to the city called Sinaos, and then to Ancyra in Galatia. Arriving at the river called Astela, he was laid down on the ground on his back, and he was beaten with rods. With the ground being watered by his honorable blood, a tree grew with very big acorns that bore fruit. This tree remains there until today, whose leaves remain on it always, and it heals every long-term and short-term sickness. From there the Saint was brought to Thrace near the river Hermos, where the Diocese of Satala is located, which is under the Metropolis of Sardis. There the renowned one tasted many terrible punishments, and was finally beheaded, and by this he received from the Lord the unfading crown of martyrdom.