Saint Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus
Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus.
Also known as Martyrs Elpidephoros, Dios, Bithonius, and Galykos, Martyrs Elpidiphoros, Dios, Bythonios and Galikos, Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Calycus, Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius and Galycus of the 3rd century
Four Christian martyrs of the 3rd century, commemorated together on April 3 in the Orthodox calendar. Elpidephorus was beheaded, Dius stoned, Bithonius drowned, and Galycus given to wild beasts.
- Fell asleep
- 3rd century (exact dates not recorded)
- Feast day
- April 3 (New) · April 16 (Old)
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Troparion of St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus
Tone 4
Your holy martyrs O Lord, through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!
The life of St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus Four Martyrs
Remembered Together on April 3
Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus are four 3rd-century Christians commemorated together on April 3. Each died by a different means: the sword, stoning, drowning, and wild beasts.
Early years
No information about the family, birthplace, or upbringing of Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, or Galycus is preserved in the sources consulted for this record. The Orthodox commemorations identify them only as Christians who suffered for their faith in the 3rd century.
In the Church
The sources consulted do not identify any ordination, office, or monastic status held by these four martyrs. They are honored as martyrs, which is the basis of their commemoration.
Later years
According to the commemorations, Elpidephorus was beheaded with a sword, Dius was executed by stoning, Bithonius was drowned in the sea, and Galycus was condemned to be eaten by wild beasts. These accounts are brief, and the Orthodox liturgical texts do not expand on the trial or the place of execution.
Legacy and veneration
The four martyrs are venerated across the Eastern Orthodox churches on April 3 (Julian), as recorded in the Menaion for April and in the Orthodox Church in America's Lives of the Saints. Their troparion is sung on their feast. No specific churches dedicated to them or posthumous miracles are recorded in the sources consulted.
Veneration of St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus How the saint's
memory is kept.
- Patronage
- Patron of Martyrs, Those suffering for the Christian faith.
- Iconography
- No sourced description of the iconography of these four martyrs was located in the sources consulted, so none is given here. Icons of martyr groups in Orthodox practice are commonly shown with crosses or palms, but no specific depiction for this group has been confirmed.
Frequently asked Questions about
St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus.
- When is the feast day of the Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus?
- They are commemorated on April 3 in the Julian calendar, which corresponds to April 16 in the New Calendar.
- How did each of the four martyrs die?
- Elpidephorus was beheaded with a sword, Dius was stoned, Bithonius was drowned in the sea, and Galycus was condemned to be eaten by wild beasts.
- When did Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus suffer?
- The Orthodox commemorations place their sufferings in the 3rd century. The sources consulted do not give an exact date, city, or emperor.
- Is Elpidephorus of this feast the same as Elpidephorus commemorated on November 2?
- No. The Elpidephorus commemorated on November 2 is one of the Persian martyrs under King Sapor who suffered with Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, and Anempodistus. The April 3 martyrs are a separate group.
- Are these martyrs formally canonized in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
- They are commemorated as martyrs in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, which is the basis of their veneration. The sources consulted do not describe a separate canonization process for them.
- Is there a troparion for the Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus?
- Yes. The New Calendar daily readings give a Tone 4 troparion for the feast, which asks for the martyrs' intercession. A kontakion specific to this group was not located.
- What is St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus the patron saint of?
- St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus is the patron saint of Martyrs and Those suffering for the Christian faith.
Kontakion of St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus
No kontakion specific to Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus was located in the sources consulted, so none is included here.
Prayer to St. Holy Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus
No traditional prayer specific to these four martyrs was located in the sources consulted, so none is included here.
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References and further reading
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/April_3
- orthodoxie.comhttps://orthodoxie.com/april-3/
- orthodox.nethttps://www.orthodox.net/menaion/april.html
- holy-trinity.orghttps://holy-trinity.org/bulgakov/0129b.pdf
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_3_(Eastern_Orthodox_liturgics)
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/0579/04/03
- orthodoxdailyreadings.wordpress.comhttps://orthodoxdailyreadings.wordpress.com/2026/04/03/new-calendar-orthodox-daily-digest-for-4-3-2026/
- uocofusa.orghttps://www.uocofusa.org/files/spiritual_resources%20/Daily_Readings-2007.pdf
- crkvenikalendar.comhttps://www.crkvenikalendar.com/datumen-2459-4-16
- orthodox.nethttps://orthodox.net/menaion-september/01-holy-martyrs-acyndinus-pegasius-anempodistus-aphthonius-elpidephorus-and-others-with-them.html
- monasticrepublic.comhttps://www.monasticrepublic.com/en/orthodox-synaxarion/november/holy-martyrs-acindynus-pegasius-aphthonius-elpidophorus-anembodistus
- rongolini.comhttp://www.rongolini.com/synnovember.htm
- molonlabe70.blogspot.comhttp://molonlabe70.blogspot.com/2015/04/
- catholicsaints.mobihttp://catholicsaints.mobi/calendar/3-april.htm
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulphianus
- catholicreadings.orghttps://catholicreadings.org/tag/list-of-saints-whose-feast-day-is-april-3/
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs_of_Alexandria_under_Decius
- iconandlight.wordpress.comhttps://iconandlight.wordpress.com/tag/gabriel-the-fool-for-christ-of-georgia/
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speusippus,_Eleusippus_and_Melapsippus
- ima.princeton.eduhttps://ima.princeton.edu/drewer/calendar/November/2
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