Procopius of Scythopolis
Encyclopedia
Procopius of Scythopolis (died July 7, 303 AD) is venerated as an early martyr
and saint
. Eusebius of Caesarea
writes of his martyrdom, which occurred during the persecution of Diocletian
, and states that “he was born at Jerusalem, but had gone to live in Scythopolis, where he held three ecclesiastical offices. He was reader and interpreter in the Syriac language
, and cured those possessed of evil spirits.” Eusebius writes that Procopius was sent with his companions from Scythopolis to Caesarea Maritima, where he was decapitated.
, or a prince of Alexandria
. One story has him slaying some 6,000 barbarian invaders simply by showing them the cross. One legend, similar to that told of Paul of Tarsus
, makes him a persecutor of Christians named Neanias who was made duke of Alexandria by Diocletian. On the way from Antioch
Neanias experienced a vision and declares himself to be a Christian.
, Procopius was first added into the calendar of saints by Bede
, whose Martyrology lists the saint under July 8. The name and date passed into the Roman Martyrology
.
At Scytholopis, there was a chapel dedicated to him. At Caesarea Maritima, there was a church dedicated to him built in 484 under Emperor Zeno
. His relics were translated
to Antioch
in the church of Saint Michael. There were four churches dedicated to him in Constantinople
.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
writes of his martyrdom, which occurred during the persecution of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
, and states that “he was born at Jerusalem, but had gone to live in Scythopolis, where he held three ecclesiastical offices. He was reader and interpreter in the Syriac language
Syriac language
Syriac is a dialect of Middle Aramaic that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. Having first appeared as a script in the 1st century AD after being spoken as an unwritten language for five centuries, Classical Syriac became a major literary language throughout the Middle East from...
, and cured those possessed of evil spirits.” Eusebius writes that Procopius was sent with his companions from Scythopolis to Caesarea Maritima, where he was decapitated.
Legends
Later legends make him a soldier saint, or an ascetic, or a PersianPersian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
, or a prince of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. One story has him slaying some 6,000 barbarian invaders simply by showing them the cross. One legend, similar to that told of Paul of Tarsus
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
, makes him a persecutor of Christians named Neanias who was made duke of Alexandria by Diocletian. On the way from Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
Neanias experienced a vision and declares himself to be a Christian.
Veneration
In Western EuropeWestern Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, Procopius was first added into the calendar of saints by Bede
Bede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
, whose Martyrology lists the saint under July 8. The name and date passed into the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
.
At Scytholopis, there was a chapel dedicated to him. At Caesarea Maritima, there was a church dedicated to him built in 484 under Emperor Zeno
Zeno (emperor)
Zeno , originally named Tarasis, was Byzantine Emperor from 474 to 475 and again from 476 to 491. Domestic revolts and religious dissension plagued his reign, which nevertheless succeeded to some extent in foreign issues...
. His relics were translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
to Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
in the church of Saint Michael. There were four churches dedicated to him in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
External links
- "St. Procopius, Martyr", Butler's Lives of the Saints
- Greatmartyr Procopius of Caesarea, in Palestine Orthodox iconIconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
and synaxarion for July 8 - Saints of July 8: Procopius of Scythopolis San Procopio di Cesarea di Palestina