Corinth authorities execute church choir regent along with seven singers
In the middle of the III century, under the emperor Decius, in the Peloponnesian city of Tresen, the leader of the female church choir Leonidas and seven members of his team were seized for openly preaching Christianity. All the detainees were transferred to the administrative center of the province – Corinth, where their case was taken by the governor Venustus.
The ruler tried to persuade the regent to apostasy, promising a large reward and high position in exchange for the worship of Roman gods. The choirmaster refused. Then the executioners cut off his skin and burned open wounds with torches. The seven girls also didn’t give up their beliefs under pressure.
The court sentenced everyone to drowning. The convicts were taken to sea and thrown overboard, tying a heavy stone around each person’s neck. Before his death, Leonid said that he was taking a second baptism for himself. Later, the bodies were found by Christians and buried on the coast. A temple was subsequently built on this site.
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