The Holy Martyr Theophilos the New

Commemorated on January 30

The Holy Martyr Theophilos the New was born and raised in Constantinople. He was a commander of the Greek armies and a senator. During a time of war with enemies of the Greek (Byzantine) empire, Saint Theophilos was taken captive. The Arabs demanded he renounce Christ, but he remained faithful to Orthodoxy. Then they imprisoned Saint Theophilos on Cyprus, where he spent four years, after which they beheaded him in the year 784.