Saint Papas z Likaonii

Papas of Lycaonia was an early Christian martyr venerated in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The saint lived in the city of Laranda in Asia Minor during the reign of Emperor Maximian (305–311). He was tried and tortured for his faith in Christ, and subsequently, for a second trial, was forced to walk in boots with sharp nails driven into the soles toward the cities of Diocaesarea and Seleucia in Isauria. Saint Papas died while tied to a withered tree, which subsequently began to bear fruit. The Roman Martyrology commemorates the saint with these words: In Lycaonia, Saint Papas, who, because of his faith in Christ, was scourged, torn with iron hooks, and forced to walk in shoes studded with sharp nails. Finally, he was hung from a tree, where he gave up his spirit. This tree, previously barren, began to bear fruit from that time on.