| Artemius of Antioch | |
|---|---|
Icon of the Martyr Artemius |
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| Megalomartyr ("Great Martyr"), Shallita | |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | 363 Antioch (relics transferred to Constantinople |
| Canonized | pre-congregation |
| Feast | 20 October |
| Patronage | hernias |
Artemius (d. in Antioch, 363), known as Challita in the Maronite tradition, was a general of the Roman Empire, dux Aegypti (imperial prefect of Roman Egypt). He is considered a saint by the Orthodox Church, with the name of Artemius of Antioch,
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Artemius was an Arian Christian, as Emperor Constantius II was. Constantius ordered Artemius to go in the lands beyond the Danube and to bring back to Constantinople the relics of Andrew the Apostle, Luke the Evangelist and Saint Timothy. Artemius accomplished his task and was rewarded with the appointment to the rank of dux Aegypti (360).[1]
One year later Constantius was succeeded by his cousin Julian, who was a Pagan. The people of Alexandria accused Artemius of several atrocities, and Julian condemned him to death. Artemius was beheaded in 363 in the city of Antioch, where he had been recalled by Emperor Julian the Apostate for maladministration of his province.[2] The charges stemmed from his persecution of pagans in Alexandria, and his use of troops in the seizure and despoliation of the Temple of Serapis instigated by George of Cappadocia. According to Ammianus Marcellinus, his death encouraged the people of Alexandria to kill George [3], but this information is probably false, because George was already dead before his trial.
He is recognized as a saint for his martyrdom; his feast day was set as 20 October.[4]