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THE SECOND
MONTH IN THE NAME
OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, On
this day the holy and honorable Bilamon became a martyr.
This holy man was a native of Nicomedia; his father worshipped
idols and his mother was a Christian.
They taught him philosophy and he was well educated, and he passed
under the care of a certain priest whose name was ‘Armalus (Harmalus?),
and he taught him the true Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and he baptized
him with Christian baptism. And
he fought a strenuous fight, and God wrought by his hand great miracles
and wonders. And there came
unto him a certain blind man so that he might work by his skill some
salvation for his eyes, and Saint Bilamon made the sign of the Cross over
the eyes of the blind man, saying, “In the Name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit,” and his eyes were relieved straightway, and he
could see with them as in former times, and he was healed. When the king
heard the story of the blind man who was healed of his sickness, he had
him brought into his presence, and he said unto him, “Who was it that
healed thine eyes?” And he
said unto the king, “Saint Bilamon healed me by laying his hand upon my
eyes, and making the sign of the Cross, and saying, ‘In the Name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,’ and straightway I saw the
light.” And the man who had
been blind and had been healed cried out before the king and said boldly,
“I am a Christian.” And
the king ordered his soldiers to cut off the head of the blind man, who
had been healed, and straightway they cut off his head with the sword, and
he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven.
Then the king sent and had Saint Bilamon brought to him, and
enquired of him concerning his Faith, and he confessed boldly before him
and said unto him, “I am a Christian.”
And the king tried to seduce him by means of much persuasion, and
he promised him very many things, but the saint had no desire for any of
the things, which he promised him. Then was the king wroth with him, and [he cried out] with a
loud voice, saying, “If thou wilt not hearken unto my voice I will
inflict upon thee severe torture.”
And Saint Bilamon answered and said unto him, “I am not afraid of
thy torture.” And
straightway the king tortured him with severe tortures for many days, by
applying one torture at a time, by beating, by suspension (i.e.,
crucifixion), by casting him into the sea, and into the fire. Whilst he
was suffering these great tortures our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him
in the form of ‘Armalus (Harmalus?) the priest who baptized him, and he
heard His voice, which was full of joy, saying, “O My chosen one Bilamon,
I have made ready for thee and the heavenly joy which is for ever.”
When the king’s soldiers heard this word of joy, they believed on
our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and glory!
And they drew nigh unto the king, and they cried out, saying, “We
believe on our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
And straightway the king commanded his soldiers to cut off their
heads with the sword, and they did so, and at the same time they cut off
the head of Saint Bilamon, and they all received the crown of martyrdom in
the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation
to Askir and Cyriacus. Salutation
to Silas the disciple of Paul. Twofold
salutation to the Apostles of the Father. And
on this day also five hundred and sixty people who formed the company of
Saint Pantaleon became martyrs. Glory
be to God Who is glorified in His Saints.
Amen.
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