Martyr
Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia, the Much-Suffering
†361-363
Martyr Gemellus, called "the Much-Suffering" — a layman from Paphlagonia living in Ancyra (Galatia); he openly and boldly denounced Emperor Julian the Apostate for his apostasy from the Christian faith and persecution of the Church, for which he was subjected to the cruellest torments — tradition holds he was flayed alive and then crucified.
Martyr Gemellus was a layman, a native of Paphlagonia, living in the city of Ancyra in Galatia. During the brief reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate (r. 361-363), who attempted to restore pagan worship and persecuted Christians, Gemellus openly and fearlessly denounced the emperor himself for his apostasy from the Christian faith. For this bold rebuke he was subjected to exceptionally cruel torture — tradition holds he was flayed alive and then crucified, earning him the epithet "the Much-Suffering." His memory is kept on December 10/23.