Memorial Day of the Venerable Procopius Dekapolitos, Confessor

On March 12, every non-leap year, the feast day of Procopius Decapolitus is celebrated. The great confessor was born in the 8th century AD. in the Decapolis, or Decapolis in the Middle East (“deca” - ten, “polis” - city). Already in his youth, Procopius began to serve the Lord, strictly observing fasts and reading prayers, asceticism in one of the monasteries in Constantinople. He achieved high purity and spiritual zeal for the Lord, and was known and revered among other ascetics. In 717, Leo III the Isaurian came to rule the Byzantine Empire. The years of iconoclasm began. The new emperor considered the veneration of icons to be idolatry. In his opinion, excessive worship of images undermined imperial power. Shrines were subjected to severe tests: icons were burned, mosaics and frescoes were destroyed. Many Christians suffered during those difficult years by rejecting heresy. The fearless Procopius stood up to defend the icons. He boldly denounced the acts of the atheists, the errors of heretics, and condemned the desecration of holy images. Leo III the Isaurian ordered the saint to be subjected to cruel torture. The confessor was captured along with his friend Vasily, his body was planed with metal tools, he was scourged, and tortured. But in terrible torment, both holy monks did not renounce their convictions about the holiness of icons. After physical torture, Basil and Procopius were thrown into a stinking prison to die. According to God's providence, the saints endured the torment with dignity. In 741, the emperor died and the prisoners were released. Procopius Decapolis continued his righteous life, confessing Jesus Christ, observing strict fasts and prayerful deeds. He guided many sinners to the right path. The monk departed to the Kingdom of Heaven at a very old age. Basil the Confessor lived for 10 years after imprisonment and died a natural death. Saints are often depicted together in icons. Basil is venerated the day after the celebration of the feast day of St. Procopius - March 13 (February 28, old style).