Martyr
Martyrs Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius of Byzantium
† ок. 270–275
Also known as: Мчч. Ипатий, Павел и Дионисий, Мученики-отроки Ипатий, Павел и Дионисий, Отроки, пострадавшие с мч. Лукиллианом
Three of the four young confessors imprisoned for Christ at Nicomedia under Emperor Aurelian and beheaded at Byzantium together with the youth Claudius; they suffered with the elder Lucillian.
The martyrs Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius were young Christians who suffered under Emperor Aurelian (270–275). Their story is told in the Life of the martyr Lucillian, a former pagan priest near Nicomedia who was baptized in old age, tortured by the governor Silvanus and imprisoned. In prison he found four youths held for their faith — Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius — and strengthened them for martyrdom.
Later they were all thrown into a red-hot furnace, but, according to the Life, rain quenched the fire and they came out unharmed. The governor then condemned them to death and sent them to Byzantium, where the four youths were beheaded and Lucillian was nailed to a cross. The virgin Paula, who had served the prisoners, buried the youths' bodies and was herself later beheaded at Byzantium. The Church commemorates Lucillian, Claudius, Hypatius, Paul, Dionysius and the virgin Paula on 3 June.