The Holy Great Martyr Artemy came from a noble Roman family, had the rank of senator, and was one of the prominent military commanders during the reign of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine the Great (306-337, Comm. 21 May/3 June), and then his son and successor, Constantius (337-361 ). Together with Saint Constantine, he observed the miraculous sign of the Cross in heaven and was confirmed in the Christian faith. Saint Artemius was close to the imperial house, and Constantius considered him his best friend and gave him the most honorable assignments. So, he was instructed to transfer the relics of the holy apostles Andrew and Luke from Achaia to Constantinople. Artemy had many awards for excellent service and courage and was appointed governor of Egypt. In this position, he did a lot to spread and strengthen Christianity in Egypt.
Emperor Constantius was replaced on the throne by Julian (361 - 363). The apostate emperor, wishing to return paganism, waged an uncompromising struggle against Christianity, sending hundreds of Christians to death and boldly mocking the shrines. In Antioch, he ordered the torture of two learned presbyters - Eugene and Macarius, who did not want to renounce the Christian faith. At this time, Saint Artemy came to the city on his service. He heard how the wicked Julian blasphemed the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with his foul lips and, filled with jealousy, fearlessly denounced Julian (“the vile king”) of inhumanity and theomachism in front of everyone. The enraged Apostate commanded that the saint be subjected to severe tortures, saying: "I will destroy him not with one execution, but with many executions." And they gave the saint into the hands of the executioners. But the martyr Artemy during terrible tortures showed truly superhuman patience. He did not let out a single groan, not a single sound, did not show a single sign of his suffering. After this, the great martyr was thrown into prison along with the martyrs Eugene and Macarius. All night long they were in captivity glorifying Christ, who made them suffer for their faith. Martyr Artemy prayed unceasingly: “Thank you, Vladyka, for having crowned me with Your sufferings! I pray, bring me to the end along the path of confession, do not let me be unworthy of this feat that I have begun, for I have placed my hope in Your bounty, most good Lord, Lover of mankind!
The next morning, Julian the Apostate called the martyrs and, without questioning, separated them: he left Artemy with him, while Eugene and Macarius sent to Oasim of Arabia - a place where no one survives for more than a year. There the presbyters soon reached a blessed end (February 19/March 3), and Artemy suffered much torment. First, Julian the Apostate asked the martyr to sacrifice to Apollo, promising to make him the high priest, that is, the second person after himself in the state. He also accused the saint of killing his brother, the Christian Gallus. However, the martyr Artemy indignantly refused to renounce Christ and rejected the false accusation. Then the enraged apostate ordered that the martyr be stripped and pierced at his sides with red-hot awls, and sharp tridents thrust into his back. The saint again silently endured terrible suffering. They took him to the dungeon and began to starve him with hunger and thirst. The martyr Artemy did not stop praying to God.
And so, during his fervent prayer, Christ Himself appeared to the martyr surrounded by angels and said: “Be of good cheer, Artemy! I am with you and will deliver you from all the pain that your tormentors have caused you, and I am already preparing for you a crown of glory. For just as you confessed me before men on earth, so I confess you before my Father in heaven. So, be courageous and rejoice - you will be with Me in My Kingdom.” Hearing this from the Lord Himself, the saint rejoiced and began to warmly thank and glorify Him.
The next day, Julian again demanded that the Great Martyr Artemy recognize the pagan gods. Having met with a resolute refusal, the emperor ordered that a huge stone be thrown on the holy sufferer, which flattened him all and crushed him with terrible force. The ascetic endured everything without a single groan. To the amazement of everyone, the great martyr even stood up on his shattered legs and predicted to Julian that he would soon receive a just retribution for the evil he had done to the Christians. Enraged, Julian ordered the saint to be killed. Before the execution, during the prayer, the great martyr Artemy heard a voice from heaven: “Come in with the saints to accept the reward prepared for you.” After this Saint Artemius was beheaded with a sword (362 or 363).
His remains were reverently placed by the deaconess of the Church of Antioch, Arista, in an ark, anointed with precious fragrances, sent to Constantinople and buried with honors by Christians. Many miracles flowed from them.
After the death of the holy Great Martyr Artemius, his prophecy about the imminent death of Julian the Apostate came true. Julian left Antioch with his army to fight the Persians. Near the Persian city of Ctesiphon he met an old Persian. He promised to betray his compatriots and be a guide to Julian's army. But the old man deceived the Apostate and led his army into the Karmanite desert, into impassable places where there was neither water nor food. Exhausted by hunger and thirst, the Greco-Roman army of Julian was forced to engage in battle with the fresh forces of the Persians.
Divine retribution overtook here the Apostate himself. During the battle, he was mortally wounded by an invisible hand, an invisible weapon. Julian groaned heavily and, dying, said: “You won, Galilean!” Julian was buried without a funeral as an apostate.
Under the name Artemy, the Christian Church glorifies two saints: the great martyr Artemy of Antioch and the holy righteous youth Artemy of Verkolsky. Both of them devoutly believed in the Lord, although they are separated by many centuries.
Artemius of Antioch was a noble Roman and belonged to the class of senators. A brave warrior, he participated in 312 in one of the battles of Emperor Constantine. During the battle, a cross suddenly appeared in the sky with the inscription: “Sim win!”. Impressed by this divine sign, Artemy converted to the Christian faith.
Having won glory in battles and becoming a military leader, Artemy was appointed governor of Egypt with special powers. It was to him that Emperor Constantius, the son of Constantine, instructed to deliver the relics of the holy apostles Andrew the First-Called and Luke from Patras, where they were, to Constantinople.
When the emperor Julian, nicknamed the Apostate, began to rule, he tried to restore paganism, cruelly persecuting the adherents of the true faith. In Antioch, on the orders of Julian, two Christian bishops were tortured for refusing to deny the Lord. Upon learning of this, Artemy stood up for them. He was immediately arrested and, after painful tortures, thrown into prison. There he prayed incessantly, and Jesus himself was revealed to him, who supported his strength and promised that a crown of glory had already been prepared for him.
The next day, he was again tortured before Julian, demanding renunciation, but Artemy not only did not renounce, but even predicted a speedy divine punishment for Julian the Apostate for his persecution of Christians. This prophecy came true a year later, in 363, when Julian was mortally wounded and, as the legend says, died with the words: “You won, Galilean!”.
Artemy was executed in 362 by a terrible execution: first, his body was crushed with a heavy stone, after which his head was cut off. Arista, a deaconess from Antioch, brought his body to Constantinople, where the great martyr was buried in the church of John the Baptist. Later, this temple received a second name after the holy Great Martyr Artemy.
The Great Martyr Artemy of Antioch showed unparalleled firmness of spirit in defending his faith in the True God, therefore often before the icon of Artemy of Antioch they pray for warriors, soldiers and officers, to strengthen faith, to be healed of bodily and spiritual ailments, to arrange their earthly affairs in justice.
Days of Remembrance:
- June 17 (transitional) - Cathedral of the Novgorod Saints
- June 3 – Cathedral of the Karelian Saints
- July 6
- November 2
Artemy Verkolsky was born in the village of Verkol in what is now the Arkhangelsk region. His parents were simple but pious peasants, and they brought up their son in piety, obedience and diligence.
Once, 12-year-old Artemy helped his father in the field. Suddenly there was a thunderclap, lightning flashed, and the lad fell lifeless to the ground. The villagers considered such a death a sign of God's wrath and did not bury him according to the Orthodox custom, but left him in the forest, just lightly sprinkled with earth and showered with branches.
It's been 32 years. In 1577, Agathonikos, a local deacon, drew attention to an unusual glow emanating from the forest. When he approached, he saw that the glow points to the remains of a youth who died from lightning, which remained in their original form, untouched by decay. Amazed by this miracle, the deacon told about it in the village and ordered the body of Artemy to be transferred to the parish church. The incorruptible remains were placed in a coffin, placed at the outer vestibule and covered with birch bark.
After a short time, an epidemic of fever swept the surrounding lands, but many of the local residents who bowed to the relics of the lad Artemy found healing, and soon the epidemic itself began to wane. Then there were many more miraculous healings, after which the fame of the miracle worker Artemy spread far beyond the borders of the region. The first such miracle was described in 1584, and in 1610 the remains of the righteous youth were placed in a special shrine in the temple itself.
In 1619, the veneration of the righteous youth Artemy was given a blessing from Macarius II, Metropolitan of Novgorod, and in 1648 the tsar, by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, founded the St. Artemiev Verkolsky Monastery, where the relics of the saint were placed with honor. Soon the first icons of "Saint Artemy" appeared, some of them depicted episodes from the life of the holy child and subsequent miraculous healings.
In the icon "Artemy Verkolsky" there is a huge power, turning to it creates genuine miracles of healing. There are many cases when prayer before the icon "Artemy" saved sincere believers from serious, sometimes fatal illnesses. Especially many healings are associated with eye diseases, when it returned even to people who had completely lost their sight.
If you have relatives or friends named Artyom, give them an icon of one of these saints, or rather both at once - such an icon for Artyom will become a powerful protection on the path of life, help to maintain stamina, courage and health.
Prayer to the Great Martyr Artemy of Antioch:
Holy servant of God, Artemius the righteous! Look graciously at the fervent prayer of us sinners (names), and with your pious intercession, ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, and advance in faith and piety and protect us from the machinations of the devil. Most of all, pray to the Lord, that after the Christian death he will make us all worthy to receive the Kingdom of Heaven, where all the righteous together with you glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to the miracle worker Artemy Verkolsky for healing from ailments:
Holy servant of God, Artemius the righteous, close protector of the holy faith of the Orthodox and the entire northern region of the Russian country! Look graciously at the fervent prayer of us sinners, and with your benevolent intercession, ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, progress in faith and piety, and protection from the wiles of the devil. Pray to the Lord, may he keep Orthodox Christians in good health, may he give peace, silence and unfeigned obedience to all people, our country, may he grant us all, after the death of Christians. The Kingdom of Heaven, where all the righteous are, is with you, forever glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Holy Great Martyr Artemy was one of the outstanding military leaders during the reign of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine the Great (306-337, Comm. 21 May), and then his son and successor, Constantius (337-361). Artemy, who had many awards for excellent service and courage, was appointed governor of Egypt. In this position, he did a lot to spread and strengthen Christianity in Egypt. Emperor Constantius was replaced on the throne by Julian (361 - 363). The apostate emperor, wishing to return paganism, waged an uncompromising struggle against Christianity, sending hundreds of Christians to their deaths. In Antioch, he ordered the torture of two bishops who did not want to renounce the Christian faith. At this time, Saint Artemy came to the city and publicly denounced Julian of wickedness. The enraged Apostate subjected the saint to cruel tortures. After this, the great martyr was thrown into prison. During the prayer that the saint offered to the Lord, Christ Himself appeared to him surrounded by angels and said: “Be of good cheer, Artemy! confessed Me before men on earth, so I will confess you before my Heavenly Father. So, be courageous and rejoice - you will be with Me in My Kingdom." Hearing this from the Lord Himself, the great martyr rejoiced and began to warmly thank and glorify Him.
The next day, Julian demanded that the Great Martyr Artemy recognize the pagan gods. Faced with a decisive refusal, the emperor resorted to torture. The ascetic endured everything without a single groan. The saint foretold Julian that he would soon receive a just retribution for the evil he had done to Christians. The apostate became furious and resorted to even more cruel tortures, but they did not break the will of the great martyr, and then Saint Artemy was beheaded (+ 362).
His remains were buried by Christians.
After the death of the holy Great Martyr Artemius, his prophecy about the imminent death of Julian the Apostate came true.
Julian left Antioch with his army to fight the Persians. Near the Persian city of Ctesiphon he met an old Persian. He promised to betray his compatriots and be a guide to Julian's army. The old man deceived the Apostate and led his army into the Karmanite desert, into impassable places where there was neither water nor food. Exhausted by hunger and thirst, the Greco-Roman army of Julian was forced to engage in battle with the fresh forces of the Persians.
Divine retribution overtook here the Apostate himself. During the battle, he was mortally wounded by an invisible hand, an invisible weapon. Julian groaned heavily and, dying, said: "You won, Galilean!" After the death of the apostate emperor, the relics of the holy Great Martyr Artemy were transferred with honors from Antioch to Constantinople.
Praise be to the Lord for sending us such bright saints who, by the example of their pious and righteous life, showed people the great and saving faith in Christ. And that there is no more reliable and faithful hand, which is always ready to support and guide a poor and weak person on the path of truth. Further we will talk about two famous men.
One of them - Artemy of Antioch - a great martyr, Artemy of Verkolsky is considered a holy righteous youth, but not a great martyr. You need to know this so as not to confuse later and correctly refer to them in your prayers. Their life is impressive enough to feel the strength of their faith and feat let's get acquainted with it.
The future Saint Artemy was born into a noble Roman family and belonged to the senatorial class. He was a participant in the battle between Emperor Constantine and Emperor Maxentius, which took place at the Milvian Bridge in 312. At this time, a Cross suddenly appeared in the sky, inscribed: “Sim win!”. This divine sign made a great impression on the warrior Artemy and converted him to Christianity.
The Great Martyr Artemius was a renowned military commander during the reign of the Roman emperors Constantine I (306-337) and his son Constantius (337-361). Under them, he was an intimate adviser and confidant. For his faithful service, he was awarded letters of commendation and placed in charge of Egypt, endowed with special powers. On behalf of the ruler Constantius, with great honors, he transferred the relics and Luke from Patras to Constantinople.
But after the reign of Emperor Constantius, Julian the Apostate (361-363) ascended the throne, a pagan who began to wage a cruel and uncompromising struggle against Christianity. Executions began everywhere, hundreds of Christians were doomed to a painful death. In Antioch, he ordered the torture of two bishops who did not renounce their faith in Christ. It was at this time that the Great Martyr Artemy came to the city, the widespread executions of Christians could not leave his noble heart indifferent. And he openly began to denounce the ruler Julian of dishonor, cruelty and pagan delusions. Then the angry emperor accused him of complicity in the murder of his elder brother Gallus. He was immediately arrested, then he was cruelly tortured for a long time, and after that he was imprisoned.
When the Holy Great Martyr Artemy once again prayed to his Lord, Jesus Christ himself appeared to him with angels and said that he should take courage, as He would deliver him from all the pain that his tormentors inflicted on him, and that a crown of glory was prepared for him. For as he preached Christ before the people, so He will confess him before the Heavenly Father. And Christ added that he should be courageous and rejoice, as soon he would be with Him in His Kingdom. And he healed him, because he, wounded by torture, had been without food for a long time, nourished only by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
After that, the Great Martyr Artemy, delighted with such news, began to fervently praise and thank the Lord. The next day he was again brought to Julian to force the strong and glorious warrior to bow and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. But, having achieved nothing, he again subjected him to terrible and painful tortures. But the great ascetic endured all suffering without a single cry or groan.
The Great Martyr Artemy of Antioch predicted to Julian that he would soon be overtaken by the just punishment of God for the numerous evils that he had done to Christians. From these words, the emperor became even more fierce and again ordered the faithful Christian to be tortured, but he could not break his will.
At this time, in Antioch, a pagan temple, the sanctuary of Apollo in Daphne, burned down from a fire falling from heaven. Julian, taking advantage of the opportunity, immediately blamed the Christians for this. And St. Artemius appointed execution (362). First, they crushed him with a stone, and then cut off his head with a sword.
Shortly thereafter, the Roman ruler was also amazed. The prophecies of St. Artemy came true exactly one year later. Julian left Antioch with his army and went to fight the Persians. Approaching the city of Ctesiphon, they met an old Persian who asked to be a guide to Julian, who promised to betray his fellow citizens for a small reward. But as it turned out later, he deceived them and led the soldiers into the wild, impenetrable Karmanite desert, where there was neither water nor food. Greco-Roman troops, hungry and exhausted from the heat, entered into a forced battle with the Persian forces well prepared for the meeting. In a battle with the Persians, a cavalry spear cut his arm, pierced his ribs and stuck in his liver. As a result, Julian, struck by an invisible hand, groaned heavily and uttered the words before his death: “You won, Galilean!”.
After the death of the tyrant, the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Artemy from Antioch were taken away together with the Christians by the deaconess Arista and brought them to Constantinople. Later they were buried in the church of St. John the Baptist, which was built by Emperor Anastasius I, after which it received its second name in honor of the holy Great Martyr Artemy.
Today the name of the saint is held in special honor in the city of Patras. The day of the Great Martyr Artemy is celebrated on October 20 (November 2). He is considered the patron saint of the city and the founder of the monastery of the Blessed Virgin Girokomio. On this day, a solemn commemoration is always performed, prayers and an akathist are read to the Great Martyr Artemy. Numerous miracles are performed from his holy relics.
On icons, the Great Martyr Artemy is traditionally depicted with long hair and a forked short beard in military armor and himation. But there are other interpretations as well.
Prayer to the Great Martyr Artemy begins with the words: “Holy servant of God, Artemy the righteous!”. The second is "Holy Martyr Artemy!".
For the first time, the life of the holy great martyr and warrior Artemy was described at the end of the 10th century by John of Rhodes, then it was processed and supplemented by Simeon Metaphrastus. The ancient Byzantine historians Ammianus Marcellinus and Philostorgius also reported about St. Artemius of Antioch.
In 1073, a particle of his relics was acquired by the Kiev Caves Monastery. It is also known that holy relics were found in the reliquary cross of the Russian Emperor Mikhail Fedorovich, which became the blessing of Patriarch Filaret.
In 1532, in the pious family of the settlers Cosmas (nicknamed Small) and Apollinaria in the village of Verkole, near the river Pinega, Dvina district, a son was born, who was named Artemy. His parents raised him in good Christian traditions. He was an obedient, meek and God-fearing child who, from the age of five, did not like any childish pranks and amusements. He diligently, as far as he could at his young age, helped his father with the housework.
On June 23, 1545, twelve-year-old Artemy was working with his father in the field, when suddenly lightning flashed nearby and thunder struck, at which time the boy fell to the ground dead. The frightened superstitious peasants considered this incident a punishment from Heaven, and therefore the body of Artemy, covered with brushwood and birch bark, was left untouched and unburied in the forest called Sosonia.
A little over thirty years after Artemy's death in 1577, Deacon Agathonikos, who served in the local church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, saw an unusual glow in the forest over the very place where Artemy's remains had once been left. Thus, the holy youth Artemy was found, which the people brought and placed on the porch of the church of St. Nicholas in Verkol. The Lord glorified him with miracles, as a result of which in 1639 he sent an order to the "here" clergy to draw up obvious testimonies, which were soon delivered to the metropolitan. And the following year, he sent a “created feast” - stichera, litiya, stikhovna, slavniks, troparion, ikos, kontakion, luminaries, praises and chanting under the banner.
Through the prayers of St. Artemy, many sick people were healed, and especially those who suffered from eye diseases. Once a resident of Kholmogor Hilarion came to the temple, having lost his sight and completely desperate to get it back. And then the righteous Artemy appeared to the sufferer with a cross in his right hand, in his left - with a staff, overshadowing the sick man with the cross, he told him that Christ had healed him by the hand of His servant Artemy. And he sent the townsman to go to Vercola to bow to his coffin and tell the priest and the peasants about what had happened.
The patient recovered immediately. In 1584, the worshipers of the holy youth transferred his holy relics from the porch of the temple to the arranged limit.
The Mezen voivode Pashkov Athanasius, for the healing of his sick son, in gratitude to the saint, built a temple in honor of the holy Great Martyr Artemy, the heavenly patron of the holy and righteous youth. In 1619, the relics of the saint were examined and on December 6 they were transferred to a new temple, which burned down 30 years later, but in 1649 a monastery was built on the site of the found relics under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, where the relics were also delivered.
There is a legend that the holy child had a sister, the righteous miracle worker Paraskeva of Piriminskaya.
Now the memory of St. Artemy is celebrated on June 23 (the day of the presentation) and the memory of the namesake Great Martyr Artemy).
"Holy Martyrs Artemy, Blasius and Juliana". Mosaic according to the sketch of V.I. Otmar.Traditionally, the saint is depicted as a warrior in armor and a himation. In the Savior on Blood, the mosaic image of the saint was created according to the sketch of the artist V.I. Otmar. Martyr Artemy is depicted as a gray-haired man with a bushy beard, dressed as a warrior. His coat of mail is covered by a red cloak. In his right hand he holds an eight-pointed cross.
The historians Ammianus Marcellinus and Philostorgius report on the life of Saint Artemius. The first lengthy Life of the Great Martyr was written by John of Rhodes; at the end of the 10th century it was revised by Simeon Metaphrastus.
Saint Artemy came from a noble Roman family and belonged to the senatorial class. He was one of the prominent military leaders during the reign of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine I. In 312, Artemy participated in the battle with the emperor Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, during which a Cross appeared in the sky with the inscription: “Conquer this”. According to the Life, this sign converted Artemy to Christianity. For many years he was close to Constantine the Great, and then an adviser to his son, Emperor Constantius II. Constantius considered him his best friend and gave the most honorable assignments. So, Artemy with great honors transferred the relics of the holy apostles Andrew the First-Called and Luke from the city of Patras to Constantinople. For courage and honest service, the emperor elevated Artemy to the position of dux and Augustal of Alexandria. In this position, he did much to spread Christianity in Egypt.
After the death of Emperor Constantius, Julian ascended the throne. The apostate emperor, wishing to return paganism, waged an uncompromising struggle against Christianity, sending hundreds of Christians to death and boldly mocking the shrines.
When the emperor began to prepare for a campaign against the Persians, Artemy, like other military leaders, was summoned to Antioch. There, being present at the executions of Christians, he denounced the cruelty and pagan delusions of Julian and predicted his quick, inglorious death. The emperor falsely accused the holy confessor of complicity in the murder of his older brother, Caesar Gallus, and ordered him thrown into prison.
For a long time the saint spent in confinement without food, nourished by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The life of the saint reports that in prison he was miraculously healed of his wounds by Christ appearing to him. After the main pagan temple of Antioch - the sanctuary of Apollo in Daphne - was burned by fire falling from the sky, Julian accused the Christians of arson and ordered the execution of Artemy. On October 20, 362, the great martyr was beheaded. Shortly thereafter, the saint's prediction came true: during the battle with the Persians, Julian was mortally wounded.
Soon after the end of the persecution of Christians, the relics of the Great Martyr Artemy were transferred with honors from Antioch to Constantinople. At present, the saint is especially revered in the city of Patras, he is considered one of the patrons of this city and the founder of the monastery of the Virgin Girokomiou, in which the solemn celebration of the saint takes place on October 20.
In 1073, part of the relics of Artemy was transported from Constantinople to the Kiev Caves Monastery. The cross-reliquary of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, which was the father's blessing of Patriarch Filaret, contained particles of the relics of the Great Martyr Artemy.
