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Saint Mercurius
Greek soldier and martyr (224/225–250) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mercurius (Greek: Ἅγιος Μερκούριος, Coptic: Ⲫⲓⲗⲟⲡⲁⲧⲏⲣ Ⲙⲉⲣⲕⲟⲩⲣⲓⲟⲥ; Syriac: ܡܳܪܩܘ̇ܪܝܘ̇ܣ; 224/225 – 250 AD) was a Roman soldier of Scythian descent who became a Christian saint and martyr.[2][3] He was born in the city of Eskentos in Cappadocia, in Eastern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). According to Christian tradition, he was the soldier who killed Julian the apostate during his campaign in Persia.[4] Saint Mercurius was also widely known by his Arabic-language name Abu-Sayfain, Abu-Sifin or Abu-Sefein in Egyptian Arabic (Arabic: أبو سيفين, romanized: Abū Seyfaīn; Coptic: ⲁⲃⲩⲥⲉⲫⲁⲓⲛ, romanized: Abû-Sefaīn) which means "father of two swords", referring to the second sword given to him by the Archangel Michael.
Saint Mercurius | |
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![]() Mosaic of Saint Mercurius inside the Hosios Loukas Monastery, Greece. | |
Great martyr | |
Born | 224/225 Eskentos, Cappadocia (Roman province) or Rome (modern-day Turkey or Italy) |
Died | December 4, 250 (aged 25–26) |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches |
Canonized | pre-congregation |
Feast |
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Attributes | Paramerion swords |
St. Mercurius was born around 225 A.D. in Cappadocia (Eastern Asia Minor) into a family of Scythian descent.[5] His parents were converts to Christianity and they called him "Philopateer" or "Philopatyr" (a Greek name which means 'Lover of the Father'). They raised him in a Christian manner. When he grew to adulthood (at the age of 17), he enlisted in the Roman army in the reign of Emperor Decius. He gained a great reputation among his superiors as a swordsman and a tactician in many battles.