4th century
Saints Aristocles the Presbyter, Demetrian the Deacon and Athanasius the Reader
Cypriot clergy — the presbyter Aristocles of Tamassos, the deacon Demetrian and the reader Athanasius — who were beheaded in Cyprus during the persecution of Diocletian.
Biography
The presbyter Aristocles, from Tamassos on Cyprus, at first withdrew to a cave in the mountains when persecution broke out under Diocletian and Maximian in 302, so as to go on giving spiritual guidance to the faithful.
Learning that many Christians were shedding their blood for the faith, however, he judged that he could not remain safe while ordinary believers suffered, and came down to Salamis, where he found the deacon Demetrian and the reader Athanasius praying in the city's church. The three of them then began together to support their persecuted brethren.
The pagan governor arrested them, and, failing to change their minds with promises or threats, had them beheaded after torture.