Ascalon of Egypt

Egypt is the home of many martyrs for their faith. Ascalon suffered during the great persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian.

According to the denunciation, Ascalon was captured and brought to the ruler Arrian. He demanded of the saint that he renounce Christ and offer sacrifices to idols. To which Ascalon replied that this would not happen. He told the governor that he would call Christ the Savior. Arrian only laughed in response and ordered that the saint be subjected to terrible tortures. He was suspended in the air and pieces of the body were torn out with iron hooks. Ascalon did not make a sound during the torture. Those present thought he had lost his senses. When Ascalon heard this, he said he was conscious, just busy glorifying God.

Then it was decided to transport the saint to the other bank of the Nile. His boat was the first, and the ruler followed the other. Ascalon prayed to the Lord that the ruler would linger and have the opportunity to tell about Christ to all who were gathered on the shore.

In the middle of the river, the ruler’s boat stopped and the efforts of the rowers could not move it. Ascalon said that until the ruler wrote that Christ was the Savior, he would remain in the middle of the river. With a hard heart, Arrian wrote a confession of the One God. There was no limit to the ruler’s anger. He ordered Ascalon to be burned with fire and then drowned in the river.

But nothing could weaken the faith of the saint. He told the Christians who were there to come for his body in 3 days to the northern part of the city. He asked to be buried with a stone that was tied to his feet. That’s what happened. His body was found with the stone and so was his
buried.

Memorial Day