In 304 in Cilician Pompeopolis ended the life of a young follower of Christianity Calliopius. The verdict was made by the viceroy Maxim, and the peculiarity of the execution was the mother’s request to execute her son in an inverted position.
The future martyr was born in Pergia, in the family of a senator and the pious Theoclia. The woman begged the child after many years of infertility, remained a widow early and single-handedly raised him in strict Christian rules.
Danger loomed over the house when Calliopius came of age. Persecution intensified in the region, and someone wrote a denunciation against the young man. Theoclia, wanting to protect his son, sent him away from his native places. Arriving in Pompeopolis, he landed directly in the epicenter of mass pagan festivals. The young man rejected the invitation to join the feasting citizens, loudly declaring his faith. The guards immediately brought him to Maxim.
The head of the city tried persuasion, promising the noble prisoner the hand of his daughter. Convinced of the futility of attempts, the governor turned to torture. First, the convict was tortured with tin rods and raw belts, and then tied to a hot iron wheel. Despite the seriousness of the injuries, the prisoner survived and was moved to prison.
Theoclia, having received the news of the tragedy, acted decisively. She wrote a will, granted freedom to slaves and gave savings to the poor. After that, the mother went to Pompeo and, paying the guards, sneaked into his son to morally strengthen him before the final.
Soon Maxim announced the final verdict. Refusing to abdicate resulted in crucifixion. It is symbolic that the day of execution of the sentence coincided with Great Thursday. Being nearby, Theoclia persuaded the escorts to nail the young man to the bars head down: she considered it audacious to repeat the pose of Christ. The martyr hung for almost two days and gave up his spirits on Good Friday.
When the lifeless body was removed, Theoclia embraced him and immediately died. The remains of the mother and son were buried in the same grave.
Memorial Days
April 20
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Lives of Saints
