Hieromartyr
Hieromartyr Capito of Cherson
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Hieromartyr Capito of Cherson — one of the seven bishops sent by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine the Great to establish Christianity in Chersonesus Taurica; according to tradition, to convince unbelieving pagans he entered a blazing furnace in full episcopal vestments, prayed unharmed within it for a long time, and emerged having gathered burning coals in his phelonion, thereby converting many; he was later drowned by pagans together with his companions.
Hieromartyr Capito was one of seven bishops (Ephraim, Basil, Eugene, Elpidius, Agathodorus, Aetherius, and Capito) sent in succession to Chersonesus Taurica to establish the Christian faith among the local population, which remained largely pagan, during the reign of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great (4th century). The first bishops sent suffered a martyr's death at the hands of the pagans; St. Capito was sent later and, according to tradition, personally asked the emperor's blessing to convince the unbelieving townspeople by a special means.
Upon arriving in Chersonesus and meeting the distrust of the inhabitants, the hierarch proposed a trial by fire: clothed in full episcopal vestments, he entered a blazing furnace before the crowd and prayed within it at length, remaining unharmed, and upon emerging gathered burning coals in his phelonion, likewise suffering no harm. This miracle converted many pagans to Christ.
According to one tradition, St. Capito later perished together with his companions at the hands of pagans, who seized their ship and drowned all aboard — this occurred on December 21.
His feast is kept on March 7/20, in the Synaxis of the Seven Hieromartyr-Bishops of Cherson, and also in the Synaxis of the Saints of Crimea.