Martyr 2nd century

Martyrs Proclus and Hilary of Ancyra

2nd century (under Trajan, 98–117)

Also known as Proclus · Hilary · Hilarion

Two kinsmen of the village of Kallippi near Ancyra who confessed Christ before the governor and were tortured and slain under Trajan.

Feast Day
July 12
Draft
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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilary of Ancyra

Life

Proclus and Hilary (also spelled Hilarion) were two kinsmen from the village of Kallippi, near Ancyra in Asia Minor (modern Ankara, Turkey), who confessed Christ and were martyred during the reign of the Emperor Trajan (98–117). Hilary was the nephew of Proclus.

According to the synaxarion, Proclus was arrested first and brought before the governor Maximus, before whom he fearlessly confessed his faith. His nephew Hilary, encountering Proclus as he was led to execution, openly declared himself a Christian and was in turn seized, tortured, and put to death. Christians buried the two martyrs together in a single grave, and they are commemorated jointly on July 12.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide
  1. 98–117 Reign of Trajan The two kinsmen of Kallippi suffer martyrdom during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the period before the Council of Nicaea.
  2. During the persecution Confession and death of Proclus Proclus is arrested and brought before the governor Maximus, where he confesses Christ. The synaxarion relates that he was made to run behind the governor's chariot toward Kallippi, and that he was finally taken outside the city, bound to a pillar, and shot with arrows.
  3. Three days later Martyrdom of Hilary Encountering his uncle as Proclus was led to execution, Hilary embraced him and confessed himself a Christian before the soldiers. He was imprisoned, tried, tortured, dragged through the city, and beheaded three days after the death of Proclus.

Contributions & Legacy

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Account of Their Martyrdom

The synaxarion relates that Proclus, brought before the governor Maximus, refused the demand to sacrifice to the pagan gods and instead foretold that Maximus himself would one day confess Christ as God. The governor then forced Proclus to run on foot behind his chariot as it set out toward Kallippi.

By tradition, when Proclus prayed during this ordeal the chariot came to a halt and could not be moved by any force until Maximus had signed a written confession of Christ. Enraged, the governor ordered Proclus taken outside the city, bound to a pillar, and shot with arrows.

Hilary, the nephew of Proclus, met his uncle as he was being led away and openly professed himself a Christian before the soldiers. He was seized and imprisoned, and after his own trial, torture, and sentencing was dragged by his feet through the city, wounded and bleeding, and then beheaded. His death came three days after that of Proclus, and the Christians buried both martyrs together in a single grave.

Notes

Named pair commemorated as one.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints