Martyr
Martyr Acacius the Centurion of Byzantium
† 303-304
Also known as: Акакий Сотник, Каппадокиянин
Martyr Acacius the Centurion — a Cappadocian, son of a Christian priest, centurion of the Legion of Mars; for openly confessing Christ before his commander he was tortured at Perinthus (Heraclea) in Thrace and beheaded at Byzantium c. 303-304, together with 77 companions.
Martyr Acacius was born in Cappadocia to the family of a Christian priest. He served as a centurion of the Legion of Mars. When his commander Firmius held a test of the soldiers' faith, Acacius openly confessed himself a Christian.
He was imprisoned and tortured in the city of Perinthus (Heraclea) in Thrace, then transferred to Byzantium, where he was bound to four pillars, beaten, and finally beheaded c. 303-304, during the reign of Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. He is venerated together with 77 companions, including the presbyter Maximus and the deacon Anthon (per the testimony of the Martyrology of Jerome).
His relics were placed at Stavrion in Constantinople, later at the Church of Heptascalum, traditionally built by Emperor Constantine. According to Western tradition, during the Iconoclast period the relics were cast into the sea and later recovered near Scyllacium in Calabria.
His feast is kept on May 7/20.