Martyr
Martyrs Severus, Memnon and the 37 Martyrs of Thrace
† 304
Also known as: Мчч. Севир и Мемнон и с ними 37 мучеников, Севир и Мемнон сотник и с ними тридцать семь мучеников, Мученики Филиппопольские
Severus, a Christian youth, the centurion Memnon whom he converted, and thirty-seven Christians of Philippopolis, martyred in Thrace under Diocletian and Maximian in 304.
The Martyrs Severus, Memnon and the 37 Martyrs of Thrace suffered in 304, during the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian, in Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv) and Bizye in Thrace. According to their Greek Passion, Severus was the son of Christian parents from Pamphylia who had fled to Philippopolis; when they decided to leave the city, he stayed to receive a martyr's crown. He met the centurion Memnon at the city's eastern gate and converted him.
Denounced to the governor Apellianus, Severus was arrested and handed over to Memnon's guard. Next morning both confessed Christ and were tortured. Memnon was thrown into a burning furnace, and Severus was beheaded after further tortures. Thirty-seven Christians of Philippopolis (thirty-eight in some synaxaria), whose names are preserved, were burned alive after torture.
The Orthodox Encyclopedia notes that the Passion was compiled long after the events from three separate accounts. The Russian Church commemorates the martyrs on 20 August / 2 September.