In the year 300, Bishop Hermon of Jerusalem sent to the city of Cherson in Tauric Scythia (Crimea) two bishops, Ephraim and Basileus, to preach the teaching of the Gospel.

Ephraim went to Scythia, where, after many labours in the service of the Word of God, he suffered a martyr’s death. Basileus remained in Cherson.

The inhabitants of the city beat him and drove him away. He withdrew to a cave on Mount Parthenon. Following a miracle performed by Saint Basileus, when he raised from the dead the only son of a high official of the city of Cherson, many people, together with the official’s family, received Christian Baptism from the hands of Saint Basileus.

This aroused the anger of the pagans who, one night, seized Saint Basileus and killed him by stoning. When Bishops Eugenius, Elpidius, and Agathodorus learned of the martyrdom of their brother in Christ, they left the Hellespont and came to Cherson to continue the preaching.

The pagans also seized them and subjected them to torments, and in the end they too received a martyr’s death. After several years they were followed in preaching by Bishop Aetherius.

He related to Emperor Constantine the Great the end of the five bishops. The emperor took all the necessary measures to protect the lives of the Christians in the city, who then built a church.

Bishop Aetherius went to Constantinople to thank the emperor. On his return journey he departed to the Lord on the island of Thasos, where he was also buried.

After Aetherius, Capiton came to Cherson. As the pagan inhabitants demanded signs and miracles, he entered a red-hot furnace and came out unharmed, and thus the entire city embraced Christianity.

Some time later, Capiton set out for Constantinople on church business. While sailing by ship, a storm arose upon the waters of the Black Sea and they were driven off their original course.

They reached the shore at the mouth of the Dnieper. The inhabitants there robbed them, and Bishop Capiton was drowned in the depths of the sea.