Holy Martyrs Terentios and Neonillē of Syria, and their Children

Saints Terentios and Neonillē of Syria, with their seven children

This week begins a busy celebration of a significant number of paired Antiochian and Syrian martyrs, unmercenaries and ascetics, bound by bonds of marital love or by blood relation. It is almost as though, in the run-up to Advent, the Holy Orthodox Church is reminding us of the importance of this familial tie, and the call to love and shared suffering that this tie entails – the same love that the Theotokos felt for her Son. Today we celebrate a martyred husband and wife from third-century Syria: Saints Terentios and Neonillē, along with their children. Tomorrow we celebrate a holy ascetic uncle and niece: Saints Abramios and Maria. The day following we celebrate two twin martyrs, a brother and sister: Saints Zēnobios and Zēnobia. And the day after that we celebrate the great Arab unmercenary doctors: the twin brothers Saints Kosmas and Damianos. The following week we celebrate the husband and wife martyrs, Saints Galaktiōn and Epistēmē, as well as the husband and wife martyrs, Saints Viktōras and Stephania.

Saint Terentios [Gk. Τερέντιος, L. Terentius, Ar. Tarantiyyûs ترنتيوس] was born early in the third century in Syria. He was married to a woman named Neonillē [Gk. Νεονίλλη, L. Neonilla]. They were a prolific couple: their seven children were Sarvēlos, Nitas, Ierax, Theodoulos, Phōtios, Vēlē and Eunikē. They were a tight-knit family; the husband and wife loved each other completely, loved their children and loved Christ – whom they were forced to worship in secret. During the troublous reign of Trajan Decius (249-251), Saint Neonillē was caught up in a persecution in Syria along with her whole family. Brought before the governor, with one mind and one heart and one voice, the nine members of one household, an icon and type of the Holy Maccabee Martyrs, all confessed Christ as Lord as they stood before the judgement seat of the impious prefect.

The governor ordered them to be scourged with iron hooks, for vinegar and salt to be poured into their wounds, and then for their flesh to be burnt. Husband, wife and children all encouraged each other in Christ’s name and gave each other strength. And then – to the astonishment of the pagans – their wounds began to miraculously heal. This was the work of angels which the pagans could not see, but when they saw the wounds knitting on their own they became afraid, and the governor ordered them to be cast into the dungeons.

The following day, Terentios and Neonillē and their children were tied to wheels and beaten mercilessly with thick rods. Again when they were taken down from the wheel their bodies were shown to be unharmed. The flabbergasted governor ordered that they be fed to wild beasts – but the beasts who were to devour them became tame in the presence of the marytrs. Then the nine of them were taken and thrown into vats of boiling pitch; but when their bodies touched the pitch it cooled, and turned into fresh water. At last, unable to visit any further torment upon the holy husband and wife and their children, the governor gave them over to the executioners to be beheaded by the sword. Thus Saints Terentios and Neonillē, and Sarvēlos, Nitas, Ierax, Theodoulos, Phōtios, Vēlē and Eunikē, met their martyrdoms in Christ and won their crowns. Holy martyrs Terentios and Neonillē, together with all your blessed children, confessors and witnesses to the glory of Christ before the impious, pray unto Him Who only loves mankind for our salvation!

Apolytikion for Saints Terentios and Neonillē, Tone 3:

Bound together by natural bonds
And clothed with the might of faith,
You walked the path of martyrdom with your seven children.
O holy martyrs Terentios and Neonillē,
Pray that those who honour your contest may receive forgiveness of their sins.