Feastday: July 8
Death: 303
Martyr and the first victim of the persecution of the Church in Palestine by Emperor Diocletian. The account of his martyrdom was composed by the historian Eusebius of Caesarea who called him "the Great." He was born in Jerusalem but moved to Scythopolis. Procopius was a reader in Scythopolis at the time of his arrest by Roman authorities. He was beheaded.
Procopius of Scythopolis (died 7 July AD 303) is venerated as a martyr and saint. He was a famous ascetic and erudite theologian and philosopher. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote of his martyrdom, which occurred during the persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian, and stated that "he was born at Jerusalem, but had gone to live in Scythopolis, where he held three ecclesiastical offices. He was reader and interpreter in the Syriac language, and cured those possessed of evil spirits." Eusebius wrote that Procopius was sent with his companions from Scythopolis to Caesarea Maritima, where he was decapitated.
Legends
Eusebius's account of Procopius's martyrdom also exists in medieval Syriac, Georgian, and Latin translations. Later legends claimed that he was either a soldier saint, ascetic, Persian, or prince of Alexandria, Egypt. One story claimed that he slew circa 6,000 barbarian invaders simply by showing them the cross. One legend, similar to that told of St. Paul of Tarsus, claimed that he was a persecutor of Christians named Neanias whom Roman Emperor Diocletian appointed as duke of Alexandria, Egypt: on the way from Antioch, Neanias experienced a vision and declared himself to be a Christian.
Veneration
In Western Europe, Procopius was first enumerated in the calendar of saints by St. Bede, whose Martyrology listed the saint under 8 July. His name and date were added to the Roman Martyrology.
In Scythopolis a chapel was dedicated in honor of him. In Caesarea Maritima Roman Emperor Zeno erected a church dedicated in honor of him in AD 484. His relics were translated to the Church of Saint Michael in Antioch, Syria. In Constantinople 4 churches were dedicated in his honor. He is the patron saint of Niš, Serbia.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is remembered in the marriage dismissal.
