Martyr
Martyr Stratonicus of Belgrade
† ок. 315
Also known as: Стратоник Сингидонский
Martyr Stratonicus of Belgrade — a prison guard and secret Christian who openly confessed his faith following his friend the deacon Hermil, and was drowned together with him in the Danube under Emperor Licinius.
IMPORTANT NOTE: this entry's images show the saint in a solitary portrait inscribed "...ΤΡΑΤΟΝΙΚ[ΟΣ]" with no companion visible in frame, which does not allow certain confirmation of the paired iconography. Among several saints bearing this name, the more widely venerated and more commonly depicted Stratonicus of Belgrade (paired with Hieromartyr Hermil) was chosen as the primary hypothesis; an alternate candidate — Stratonicus of Nicomedia from the group of Seleucus/Cronidas/Leontius/Serapion (feast September 9/22) — is not excluded.
Saint Martyr Stratonicus was a prison guard in the city of Singidunum (modern Belgrade) and a secret Christian, a close friend of the deacon Hermil. When Hermil was seized, tortured, and imprisoned for confessing Christ, Stratonicus, out of sympathy and solidarity, openly declared himself a Christian and was arrested alongside him.
Both were beaten and tormented for 21 days, then bound together and drowned in the Danube (ancient Ister) by order of Emperor Licinius around 315. Their relics were later found washed ashore and venerated by local Christians.
His feast is kept on January 13/26.