Martyr
Martyr Themistocles of Myra, Shepherd
†251
Martyr Themistocles — a shepherd from Myra in Lycia who, during the persecution of Emperor Decius, sheltered the sought-after Christian Dioscorides and voluntarily gave himself up to the pursuers in his place; for this he was subjected to cruel torture and died a martyr's death in 251.
Martyr Themistocles was a shepherd in the city of Myra in Lycia and lived during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius (r. 249-251). When persecutors were searching for a hidden Christian named Dioscorides, Themistocles sheltered him and voluntarily went out to meet the pursuers himself, so that the fugitive could escape. Seized in place of Dioscorides, he was subjected to cruel torture for confessing Christ: he was beaten on the stomach until his insides ruptured, hung from a tree, and his body was dragged over sharpened iron and stakes. Having endured these torments, Themistocles died a martyr for Christ in 251. His memory is kept on December 21/January 3.