Venerable Martyrs
Martyrs Galaction and Episteme
A married couple who embraced ascetic life and remained united in their confession of Christ.
Core account checked against Orthodox Synaxarion (Greek). Additional ecclesiastical references appear below.
Life and Witness
A Christian Household
Galaction was raised by parents who had embraced Christianity through the teaching of a monk named Onuphrius. Their conversion led them to use their wealth in works of charity. When Galaction married Episteme, he also brought her to faith in Christ.
A Life of Dedication
The couple devoted themselves to the Gospel and service of their neighbors. During the persecution under Emperor Decius, Galaction withdrew to a monastery in the region of Sinai, while Episteme entered a community of women.
Together in Martyrdom
When Galaction was arrested, Episteme came forward and asked to share his suffering. The governor failed to persuade them to abandon their faith. After enduring torture, they were beheaded around the middle of the third century. Their feast on November 5 remembers a bond made enduring through their shared dedication to Christ.
Biographical information on this page is based exclusively on the Orthodox ecclesiastical sources listed below.
Orthodox Synaxarion (Greek)