Martyr Meletius Stratelates

The Martyr Meletius Stratelates (in the Russian calendar, Meletius of Galatia) heads a large company of martyrs who suffered at Tavium in Galatia between 218 and 222, under an emperor the Passion calls Antoninus, usually identified with Elagabalus. According to the long Greek Passion, Meletius was a Christian military commander who prayed for the overthrow of paganism. When demons possessed dogs that terrorised the countryside, he had his soldiers kill them, and he destroyed the idols in the temple of Jupiter.

The prefect Maximus arrested him with the officers Stephen and John and subjected them to cruel tortures. The jailer Serapion, an Egyptian, and the sorcerer Callinicus, who had failed to poison them, both confessed Christ and were beheaded. Stephen and John were beheaded together with their wives and children, and Meletius's soldiers who confessed the faith were executed — 1,218 in all according to the Life (some sources say 11,000). Meletius himself was nailed to a pine tree and died there. The Orthodox Encyclopedia notes that the Passion is legendary in character and borrows much from the Passion of Victor and Corona. The feast of Meletius and his companions is May 24 (June 6 New Style).