Hieromartyr Socrates

Today the Orthodox Church celebrates the Hieromartyr Socrates. Information about the Hieromartyr is scanty, but his person is often identified with Saint Socrates, Elder in Ankara.

Saint Socrates lived in the 3rd century AD, when Alexander Severus was king

Elder Socrates was a priest of the liturgy, but mainly of light and building. He needed to sacrifice for his faith. He had the God-fearing Saint Theodote as his assistant.

From a noble family, the courageous Theodote was a faithful assistant to Socrates, discussing the Gospel in order to increase the number of those devoted to the worship of Christ. With her teaching she touched the souls of pagan women for the knowledge of the truth and the acceptance of baptism.

For their actions, Socrates and Theodote were betrayed and arrested. Through torture and exile, they tried to persuade them to sacrifice to idols. The Saints, refusing, suffered death.

Thus, both of them were denounced for their actions, arrested, and with threats and tortures they were forced to sacrifice to idols. But the woman and the priest, indignantly rejected the impious proposal, and sealed their confession of faith with their blood, after suffering death by beheading.

Information on the identification of the Hieromartyr Socrates and Saint Socrates, Ambassador in Ankara remains limited.

In the Greek region of Marathon, a small chapel commemorates Saint Socrates, on the same spot where thousands of years ago, the ancient Athenians fought against the Asian invaders.

Right, Saint Socrates, left, Saint Fanourios, Church of Panagia Mesosporitissa.