Philetus was a member of the church and had a wife named Lydia and two sons, Theobribius and Macedonius. The family believed in Christ and lived a pious life. When they were arrested for their faith, they were brought before Hadrian Caesar (117-138 AD). Philetus’ answers greatly confused the king because the Holy Spirit spoke through him in fulfillment of the divine word: “When they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you are to speak, for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to speak. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:19-20).
Philetus and his family were brought before the military governor of Illyria, Duke Amphilochius. He stretched the saints out on the torture table and ordered his men to beat them with wooden swords. Faced with the martyrs' amazing patience and the state of peace in which they were, the scribe Cronidus was humbled and accepted faith in Jesus and confessed it, not caring about the consequences that might follow from his confession.
They were all thrown into prison, including the scribe. During the night an angel of the Lord visited them and told them of the testimony that was coming against them and strengthened them. In the morning Amphilochius threw them into a large pot full of boiling oil and gum. Divine providence willed that Amphilochius, for his own salvation, should see the contents of the pot ineffective after the saints had descended into it. His heart was pricked and the grace of God penetrated into him, so he converted and believed in Christ. Hadrian was informed of what had happened, so he ordered the six martyrs to be killed and their testimony was completed.
The church commemorates them on March 23.
Troparia in the fourth tune
Your martyrs, O Lord, through their efforts, obtained from you indestructible crowns, O our God, because they attained your strength, so they destroyed the usurpers and crushed the power of the demons who have no power. Through their pleas, O Christ God, save our souls.
