Saint Pharnacius

The holy martyrs Orentius, Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus, and Longinus were brothers and Roman soldiers who suffered during the reign of Emperor Maximian. During the reign of Maximian (284–305), the Scythians attacked the Greeks. The strong and brave soldier Saint Orentius was ordered to duel the Scythian leader Maroth, who possessed extraordinary physical strength. Orentius, a Christian like his six brothers who also served in the imperial army, called upon the Lord for help and defeated Maroth, thereby halting the Scythian invasion. The emperor decided to offer a sacrifice to pagan deities in honor of this victory. He summoned Saint Orentius to participate, but the saint refused, declaring himself a Christian and stating that he had defeated the enemy through the power of the True God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither promises of honors and wealth nor threats could persuade the saint to renounce his faith. The cruel and ungrateful emperor ordered the exile of the saint and his six brothers—Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus, and Longinus—to the Caucasus. All seven brothers died during the journey. Saint Eros was the first to die on June 22 in Parembole. Saint Orentius followed, suffering a martyr's death: he was thrown into the sea with a stone tied around his neck. According to tradition, the Archangel Raphael brought him ashore in Rhiza, on the southern coast of the Black Sea, where the holy martyr died. Saint Pharnacius died on July 3 in Cordyle; Saints Firmus and Firminus died on July 7 in Aspar, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea; Saint Cyriacus died in Zigana on July 14; and Saint Longinus died on a ship on July 28. A storm carried the ship to the shore at Pityus (Pitsunda), where the body of the holy martyr was buried.