Isidore of Chios
Encyclopedia
Isidore of Chios was a faithful Christian
who fell victim on the island of Chios
in 251 under the persecutions
ordered by the Roman emperor
Decius
. His feast day is commemorated on May 14
.
An officer in the Roman navy
, Isidore confessed himself as a Christian to the commander of the fleet while they were on the Aegean island
of Chios. Because he was unwilling to repent and worship the gods of the state, he was tormented and beheaded, and his body cast into a cistern. According to one legend, at this point all the trees on the south side of the island shed tears for Isidore, and this was the origin of the mastic
that is still collected regularly on the island.
According to tradition, his friends Ammonius and Myrope, both destined to martyrdom, would have retrieved the body and interred it properly. Later Myrope was buried beside Isidore, and on their grave miraculous recoveries were reported. There was built a chapel, and in the 5th century a church, thanking Saint Marcian. This church could be that of which a few ruins can now be admired in Chios town
. St Isidore’s veneration spread in all the Mediterranean sea and he became a sailor
s’ protector.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
who fell victim on the island of Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
in 251 under the persecutions
Persecution of Christians
Persecution of Christians as a consequence of professing their faith can be traced both historically and in the current era. Early Christians were persecuted for their faith, at the hands of both Jews from whose religion Christianity arose, and the Roman Empire which controlled much of the land...
ordered by the Roman emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Decius
Decius
Trajan Decius , was Roman Emperor from 249 to 251. In the last year of his reign, he co-ruled with his son Herennius Etruscus until they were both killed in the Battle of Abrittus.-Early life and rise to power:...
. His feast day is commemorated on May 14
May 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
May 13 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - May 15All fixed commemorations below celebrated on May 27 by Old Calendarists-Saints:* Martyrs Justa, Justina and Henedina, in Sardinia * Martyr Maximus * Martyr Isidore of Chios...
.
Life and martyrdom
His life is the subject of several versions, mainly with hagiographic aims.An officer in the Roman navy
Roman Navy
The Roman Navy comprised the naval forces of the Ancient Roman state. Although the navy was instrumental in the Roman conquest of the Mediterranean basin, it never enjoyed the prestige of the Roman legions...
, Isidore confessed himself as a Christian to the commander of the fleet while they were on the Aegean island
Aegean Islands
The Aegean Islands are the group of islands in the Aegean Sea, with mainland Greece to the west and north and Turkey to the east; the island of Crete delimits the sea to the south, those of Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos to the southeast...
of Chios. Because he was unwilling to repent and worship the gods of the state, he was tormented and beheaded, and his body cast into a cistern. According to one legend, at this point all the trees on the south side of the island shed tears for Isidore, and this was the origin of the mastic
Mastic
Pistacia lentiscus is a dioecious evergreen shrub or small tree of the Pistacio genus growing up to tall which is cultivated for its aromatic resin, mainly on the Greek island of Chios.- Description :...
that is still collected regularly on the island.
According to tradition, his friends Ammonius and Myrope, both destined to martyrdom, would have retrieved the body and interred it properly. Later Myrope was buried beside Isidore, and on their grave miraculous recoveries were reported. There was built a chapel, and in the 5th century a church, thanking Saint Marcian. This church could be that of which a few ruins can now be admired in Chios town
Chios (town)
Chios is the main town and a former municipality on the island of Chios, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chios, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located on the eastern coast of the island facing the Turkish coastal town of Çeşme...
. St Isidore’s veneration spread in all the Mediterranean sea and he became a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s’ protector.
External links and sources
- http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/saints/may/14th.cfm
- http://web.archive.org/web/20040620135010/http://saintgeorge.org/news_and_events/church_calendar/saint_of_the_day/05may/may_14_saint_isidore_of_chios.php