Martyr
Martyr Dulas of Cilicia
† ок. 305–313
Also known as: Мч. Дула Киликийский, Дула Преториадский, Doulas of Cilicia
A Christian of noble birth from Praetoriada in Cilicia, tortured to death by the governor Maximus during the persecution of the early fourth century.
The martyr Dulas (Doulas) was a Christian of noble family from Praetoriada near Zephyrium in Cilicia. During the persecution under Maximian (about 305–313) he was arrested and brought before the governor of Cilicia, Maximus. Asked his name, he answered that his true name was Christian, and that he was called Dulas, 'slave', because he was a slave of Christ.
He refused honours offered for sacrifice and denounced the pagan gods. He was beaten with iron rods, laid on a red-hot iron plate, torn with iron claws and kept in chains between interrogations; at the last one his body was flayed and his jaws were broken. Taken along on the governor's journey to Tarsus, he died on the road, and his body was thrown out unburied.
According to his Life, the body was carried by water to a village near Praetoriada, where shepherds' dogs guarded it from birds and covered it with a shepherd's cloak; local Christians then buried the martyr with honour.