Martyr
Martyr Potitus
II век (при имп. Антонине Пие, 138–161)
Also known as: Мч. Потит, Потит Гаргарский
A boy martyr of the 2nd century from Sardinia: baptized at thirteen, he brought his pagan father to Christ, preached and healed the sick, and under Emperor Antoninus was beheaded after many tortures.
The Martyr Potitus suffered under Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161). According to the life retold by St Dimitry of Rostov, he was the only son of a pagan named Hylas in Sardinia. At thirteen he read the Christian Scriptures, secretly went to the Christians and was baptized. His father tried persuasion, hunger and confinement to make him sacrifice to the gods, but in the end was himself converted by his son and baptized.
Potitus then preached Christ in Epirus; in the city of Valeria he healed Kyriakia, wife of the senator Agathon, of leprosy, and she, her household and many townspeople were baptized. Afterwards he lived as a hermit on Mount Gargara among wild beasts. When the emperor's daughter was possessed by a demon, Potitus was brought to the court and healed her, but he refused to sacrifice to the idols and was tortured; finally his tongue was cut out, his eyes put out, and he was beheaded with the sword, in the mid-2nd century.
According to Azbyka.ru, his relics rest in the cathedral of Tricarico in Italy, where they were found on 14 January 1506; a church at Ascoli Satriano holds a portion of them. Feast: 1 (14) July.