The Holy Martyrs of Dorostolum were honoured on Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Silistra, Bulgaria.
The assembly of bishops included Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis, Bishop Visarion of Tulcea, and Bishop Ieronim of Dacia Felix on behalf of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Jacob of Dorostol.
According to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s rules, the Holy Martyrs of Dorostolum, who suffered martyrdom in the third and fourth centuries, are honoured on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
This commemoration was instituted by the late Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria in 2016.
According to historical sources, the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Galerius (293-311) tried to remove Christian soldiers from their army.
In this context, several Christian soldiers received martyrdom, including brothers Pasicratus and Valentine, veteran soldier Julius, soldier Hesychius, and soldiers Marcian and Nicander.
The Metropolis of Dorostol is one of the oldest metropolises in the Orthodox world, dating from approximately 390. Modernly named Silistra, Dorostolum was the last military centre of the Roman Empire.
A legion was stationed in Dorostolum, defending from the north. It included many Christian soldiers, such as St. Dasius, St. Maximus, St. Dadas, St. Quintilian, and St. Callinicus.
Photo: Diocese of Dacia Felix
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