Venerable Procopius of Decapolis

Procopius the Decapolite, also known as Procopius the Confessor (second half of the 8th century – first half of the 9th century), was a Byzantine monk, Christian ascetic, venerable, and confessor. Procopius the Decapolite was a monk who lived in a monastery in Constantinople. He had a disciple and companion named Basil the Confessor. During the iconoclastic persecutions under Emperor Leo V, he and Basil were subjected to many tortures and imprisoned, where both monks remained until the emperor's death. After the emperor died, Procopius lived for about ten years before dying of natural causes. In the Menologion of Basil II (late 10th century), a brief joint life of Procopius and Basil is recorded under February 27, where both are called confessors. In the Synaxarion of the Church of Constantinople (10th century), the life of Procopius is placed on February 27, while the life of Basil is placed on February 28. The Menologion of Basil II contains an image of the two venerable saints. It is possible that Procopius the Decapolite originated from the region of Decapolis (in Transjordan), from which he received his epithet. In the Menaion, the service for Procopius the Decapolite is placed under February 27; it consists of three stichera for "Lord, I call" in Tone 4, to the melody "As one valiant"; a troparion in Tone 8; a canon in Tone 6, attributed to Theophanes; a sedalen in Tone 4; and a kontakion in Tone 4.