Saint Abaskhiron the Soldier

Abaskhiron the Soldier or Eskhayron the Soldier is a Coptic martyr and saint. The name "Abaskhyron" is derived from two words, The honorific title "Abba" which means father, is given to him out of respect (despite his young age in martyrdom). The second part of the name, "skhyron", sometimes "eshseros", "eskaros", means the strong. Abaskhiron was from the city of Qallin, a governorate of Kafr el Sheikh. He was one of the soldiers of Arianus, governor of Ansena. When the Edict of Diocletian to worship the idols was issued, Abaskhiron arose among the people present, and refused to worship the idols. The governor became furious and struck him on his mouth. Immediately Abaskhiron stepped up and took off his soldier's uniform and threw it on the ground, in front of the governor. This stirred the governor's anger even more and he ordered that Abaskhiron be thrown in the dungeon, a place with a suffocating atmosphere and awful odor, where Christians were brutally tortured. Abaskhiron stayed in prison, which was in the palace of the governor, in Asyut, courageously and fearlessly ready to endure any pain. Five other soldiers agreed with Abaskhiron to shed their blood in the name of Christ. Their names were: Alfius, Armanius, Arkias, Peter, and Cranius. The governor crucified some and cut off the heads of the others. As for Abaskhiron, the governor tortured him with different kinds of tortures, but the Lord comforted him, strengthened him, and healed his wounds. The governor ordered the greatest sorcerer, Alexander, to prepare poison to kill him. Alexandros took out a snake and started to recite satanic verses until the snake split open in two pieces in front of everybody. Then he took the snake's poison and parts of his belly, put it in a cup and began to recite the same satanic names and language again.