Elpidephorus

ON SAINT ELPIDEPHORUS, MARTYR AMONG THE GREEKS.

Elpidephorus, Martyr among the Greeks (Saint)

G. H.

The Greeks celebrate the holy Martyr Elpidephorus on this day in the Great Menaia and in Maximus of Cythera; the Chifletian manuscript Menaia hand down that he was killed by the sword. Other things concerning place and time are hidden. There is a certain Elpidephorus who, under Sapor King of the Persians, was crowned with martyrdom together with Saints Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Anempodistus, and very many others; but who will say this is the same man? He is honored in the Menaia with this distich, with an allusion to the name, derived from "bearing hope," which properly befits God, the giver of all good things.

Ὄντως ἀληθὴς Μάρτυς Ἐλπιδηφόρος, Θεὸν φέρων ἄψευστον ἐλπιδηφόρον.

This true and sincere Martyr, Elpidephorus, Bears God, an unfailing rewarder of hope.

Galesinius and Ferrarius also mention Saint Elpidephorus the Martyr, and join him with Saint Bythonius, of whom we treat in the following entry.