Martyr
Martyr Gordius of Cappadocia
†320
Martyr Gordius of Cappadocia — a Roman centurion from a Christian family of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who withdrew to the desert to escape the persecution of Emperor Licinius and returned to publicly denounce idol-worship during a pagan festival at the hippodrome; for this he was beheaded in 320. St. Basil the Great dedicated a eulogistic homily to his feat.
The Martyr Gordius came from a Christian family in the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia and was a Roman centurion. When persecution of Christians intensified under Emperor Licinius, he left military service and withdrew into the desert mountains, where he labored in fasting and prayer. Learning that a great pagan festival was being prepared at the hippodrome in Caesarea in honor of the god of war, St. Gordius returned to the city and, waiting until a great crowd had gathered, went out openly into the middle of the hippodrome and loudly confessed faith in Christ, denouncing the falsehood of idol worship. He was seized and, after torture, firmly refused all persuasion to offer sacrifice to idols — for which he was beheaded around the year 320. St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea, dedicated a special eulogistic homily to his feat.
NOTE: the stub_caption placeholder (a fragment of a Menaion icon, Rus', early 17th c.) has been expanded into a full biography.