- Procopius of Scythopolis
Infobox Saint
name= Saint Procopius
birth_date=
death_date=July 7, 303 AD
feast_day=July 8
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church ;Eastern Orthodox Church
imagesize=
caption=Icon of Saint Procopius, 13th centurySaint Catherine's Monastery ,Mount Sinai
birth_place= Jerusalem
death_place= Caesarea Maritima
titles= Great Martyr
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
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major_shrine=
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issues=Procopius of Scythopolis (d.
July 7 ,303 AD) is venerated as an earlymartyr andsaint .Eusebius of Caesarea writes of his martyrdom, which occurred during the persecution ofDiocletian , and states that “he was born atJerusalem , but had gone to live inScythopolis , where he held three ecclesiastical offices. He was reader and interpreter in theSyriac language , and cured those possessed of evil spirits.” [ [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0708.htm Saints of July 8 ] ] Eusebius writes that Procopius was sent with his companions from Scythopolis toCaesarea Maritima , where he wasdecapitated .Legends
Later legends make him a
soldier saint , or anascetic , or aPersian , or a prince ofAlexandria . [ [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0708.htm Saints of July 8 ] ] One story has him slaying some 6,000 barbarian invaders simply by showing them the cross. One legend, similar to that told ofPaul of Tarsus , makes him a persecutor of Christians named Neanias who was made duke of Alexandria by Diocletian. On the way fromAntioch Neanias experienced a vision and declares himself to be a Christian. [ [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0708.htm Saints of July 8 ] ]Veneration
In
Western Europe , Procopius was first added into the calendar of saints byBede , whose "Martyrology" lists the saint under July 8. The name and date passed into the "Roman Martyrology". [ [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/61400 San Procopio di Cesarea di Palestina ] ]At Scytholopis, there was a chapel dedicated to him. At Caesarea Maritima, there was a church dedicated to him built in 484 under
Emperor Zeno . Hisrelics were translated toAntioch in the church of Saint Michael. There were four churches dedicated to him inConstantinople . [ [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/61400 San Procopio di Cesarea di Palestina ] ]Notes
External links
* [http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101966 Greatmartyr Procopius of Caesarea, in Palestine] Orthodox
icon andsynaxarion for July 8
* [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0708.htm Saints of July 8: Procopius of Scythopolis]
*it icon [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/61400 San Procopio di Cesarea di Palestina]
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