Hieromartyr Phileas of Thmuis

Hieromartyr Phileas came from a noble and educated family of the city of Thmuis in the Nile Delta (Egypt) and held prominent civic offices before his episcopate. Having received episcopal rank, he zealously shepherded his flock. During the persecution of Emperor Diocletian he was imprisoned in Alexandria, where, awaiting execution, he wrote the famous "Letter to the Thmuites" — an eyewitness account of the sufferings of the confessors of Alexandria, preserved by Eusebius of Caesarea in his "Ecclesiastical History." He was beheaded on 4 February 306 together with the eminent Roman official Philoromus, who had also converted to Christ. NOTE: the card's original name "Philas/Philadelphus of Alexandria" was not found in any authoritative source; based on all identified traits (episcopal rank, c. 303–306, martyrdom under Diocletian), the most probable real identity is Hieromartyr Phileas, Bishop of Thmuis.