Martyr 4th century

Martyrs Diodorus and Rhodopianus

Also known as Diodorus · Rhodopianus

Two deacons who spread the faith at Aphrodisias in Caria and were stoned to death during the persecution under Diocletian.

Feast Day

April 29

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Diodorus and Rhodopianus, Deacons of Aphrodisias

Life

Diodorus and Rhodopianus were two deacons who served the Christian community at Aphrodisias, a city in the region of Caria in Anatolia (Asia Minor). According to the surviving record, they devoted themselves to spreading the Christian faith among the pagan population of the area, and were put to death by stoning during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian (284-305).

They are venerated together as martyrs, commemorated on April 29. The historical record preserved in the Orthodox synaxarion is brief, noting their deaconal office, their missionary activity at Aphrodisias, the Diocletianic persecution under which they suffered, and their death by stoning.

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Office and Martyrdom

Both Diodorus and Rhodopianus held the rank of deacon at Aphrodisias in Caria. Their recorded activity centered on evangelism, preaching the Christian faith to the non-Christian inhabitants of their region.

Their martyrdom is placed during the reign of Diocletian, a period associated with one of the most severe and systematic persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire. The sources record that they were stoned to death, an end directly connected with their work of spreading Christianity among the pagans.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints