Memorial Day of the Martyr Pankharia

Orthodox believers celebrate the Day of Remembrance of the Martyr Pankharius on April 1 (March 19, old style). He was born in the 3rd century into a family that believed from generation to generation in the Lord and Jesus Christ, was smart and handsome. During that period in Ancient Rome, the empire split into two parts: eastern and western. The eastern territories were led by Emperor Diocletian, and the western territories by Maximian. It was to the second ruler that the young Pankhariy came into the service. Trying to please the ruler, he renounced Christianity. But Christians were not favored then: they were insulted, their households were taken away, and, knocking faith in Christ out of them, they were tortured to death. Maximian liked Pancharius, the emperor appointed him to his confidants and gave him the position of a dignitary. But the ruler did not know that the ward was a Christian in the past. At the behest of Maximian, Pankharia was treated to delicious dishes and presented with expensive gifts that brought only aesthetic pleasure. He meekly followed the instructions of the emperor and was devoted to him. Pankharia's mother, having learned about her son's behavior, was heartbroken. Together with her daughter, she wrote a letter to her son, mentioning the Lord and the Last Judgment, after which terrible punishment awaits the sinner’s soul. The renouncer was assured of the wrongness of idolatry, of the consequences of renouncing Christianity, and was advised to come to his senses and repent. After reading the letter, Pankharia had an epiphany. He fell to his knees and sobbed loudly, begging the Lord to forgive him. The ruler's servants, having heard the repentance, reported to the ruler about Pankharius' behavior. The emperor called him to his place and asked if he was a Christian. Having received a positive answer, Maximian assured him to renounce his faith, threatening him with violence. But in vain, the subject became adamant. Maximian ordered the Christian to be stripped and flogged with hard leather straps. After talking with his advisers, he sent him to the cruel Emperor Diocletian in Nicomedia for a public death, since he himself loved Pancharius very much and could not personally execute his favorite. In Nicomedia, Pancharius was questioned and, having learned about faith in the Lord, was taken to the main square. The martyr refused to glorify idolatry and did not want to leave the righteous path again. After the last prayer, his head was cut off. The date of death of the martyr was March 19 according to the Julian calendar.