Martyr
Martyr Epimachus the New of Pelusium
† ок. 250
Also known as: Епимах Пелусийский, Епимах Александрийский
Martyr Epimachus the New — a hermit of Mount Pelusium who left the desert to denounce idolatry in Alexandria under Emperor Decius, tortured on the wheel and beheaded; a drop of his blood healed a blind woman.
Epimachus was born to pious Egyptian Christian parents and, imitating St. John the Baptist, spent a long period as a hermit on Mount Pelusium, supporting himself by weaving.
On hearing that a fresh persecution of Christians had broken out in Alexandria under Emperor Decius (c. 250 AD), he left the desert, entered the city, smashed pagan idols, and openly confessed his faith. The eparch Apellianus had him tortured on the wheel to force him to sacrifice to idols, but he refused to yield.
During his torment a drop of the martyr's blood fell into the eye of a blind woman among the onlookers, instantly healing her; she and her family believed in Christ as a result. Epimachus was ultimately beheaded.
He is called "the New" to distinguish him from an earlier, separate group of Alexandrian martyrs of the same era that also included a martyr named Epimachus.
His feast is kept on October 31/November 13.