Feast Day:
Saint Gerontios November 4th
Saint Polychronia April 23rd
The Life of Saint Gerontios and Saint Polychronia: Our house has gained a great and powerful protector. May God make us worthy to Confess our Faith and offer our life as a sacrifice for Him…
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Prayers
Saint Gerontios, Saint Polychronia and Saint George Pray to God for us.
Saint Gerontios was married to Saint Polychronia and they had a son Saint George. Saint Gerontios was a leader in the Roman army, and was among the first Christians arrested in Cappadocia. Both Saint Polychronia and Saint George attended the trial of Saint Gerontios and heard him tell the Governor:
“I prefer to die for my faith in Christ rather than deny Him, even if you gave me everything you promised.”
When Saint Gerontios was dragged to the place of his execution, the young boy Saint George, who was ten years old at the time, saw his father give up his spirit into the hands of bright Angels. Saint Polychronia said to Saint George:
“Your father, my child, is near the Throne of God, where he so desired to live. Though we may not see him, he is near us and will protect us from evil. Our house has gained a great and powerful protector. May God make us worthy to confess our faith and offer our life as a sacrifice for Him. You must not, my child, be sad because you lost your father. We will meet again one day. We Christians believe, as you know, that we have an immortal Soul, and one day we will be resurrected and we will live endlessly near the Throne of God.”
Years later Saint George Confessed his Faith in Christ and suffered great tortures. His mother Saint Polychronia encouraged him to remain steadfast in his faith. She also Prayed and fasted and would bring to her son the Holy Mysteries each day. One day in the prison Diocletian saw Saint Polychronia:
When he saw her near George and talking with him, he asked her: “Why are you talking with the soldier?” Polychronia responded with courage: “I am Polychronia and I am a Christian, like my son, who for many days you have tortured. May you know king that with whatever he suffers you are preparing for him an eternal Crown in Heaven and an enviable seat near the Throne of God.” When Diocletian heard this, he said: “You taught him to not respect our immortal and glorious gods? You advised him not to sacrifice to them?” Fearlessly the mother of the Martyr responded: “Learn, King, that we were born Christians. Our parents taught us faith in Christ Our God, Who is the Only True and All-Powerful, and He never denied us anything we asked of Him, which is why we will never deny Him. A myriad of tortures we will endure and suffer with patience for His Grace.”
After hearing these words, Diocletian was enraged and commanded Saint Polychronia to be beaten and burned with candles. Through the great pain Saint Polychronia the Martyr cried out:
“Lord Jesus Christ, receive the spirit of Your servant.”
Saint Polychronia then gave her spirit into the hands of the bright Angels who brought her to the Throne of God, and Christians buried her Martyred body.
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