Prologue: hagiographies of the saints
 
 
 
 
 
 

On fasting
Holy communion
On confession
Spiritual father

The Holy Apostle Matthew
The Holy Apostle Matthew

Search:

 

Venerable Procopius Decapolit     3/12/2013

This saint was from Decapolis (Ten Cities) surrounding the Sea of Galilee for which he was called "Decapolit." In his youth, he devoted himself to a life of asceticism and accomplished all prescribed efforts, by which the heart is purified and the spirit elevated to God. When a persecution began by the nefarious Emperor Leo Isaurian regarding icons, Procopius rose up in defense of icons showing that the veneration of icons is not idolatry; for Christians know that honoring icons they do not either bow down or honor lifeless material but rather honor living saints who are depicted on the icons. Because of that, Procopius was arrested, brutally tortured, flogged and scrapped with an iron brush. When the wicked Emperor Leo was slain in the body, (for he had lost his soul earlier), icons were restored in the churches and Procopius returned to his monastery where he spent the remainder of his days in peace. In old age, he was translated into the kingdom of God where he gazes with joy upon the living angels and saints, whose images on icons he honored on earth. He died peacefully in the ninth century.