The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theon and Antoninus

Diocletian’s soldiers executed for refusing to renounce Christ

In 303, three imperial spear-bearers – Christopher, Theon and Antoninus – publicly declared themselves Christians and after torture were burned at the stake.

They served in the protection of Emperor Diocletian. During the public tortures of the Great Martyr George, the soldiers witnessed his miraculous fortitude and believed. Immediately thereafter, they removed their golden military belts—a sign of their status—and confessed their faith in the face of the ruler. An angry Diocletian ordered them to be imprisoned. The next day, he tried to persuade his former subordinates to renounce, but they reaffirmed their devotion to Christ. Then followed the torture: beating with iron bars and tormenting the bodies with hooks. The martyrs did not retreat. The final order of the emperor was to burn him alive. The execution took place in the same year 303. The memory of St. George, whose example led them to conversion, is celebrated on April 23.