The Ten Saints

In November 249, Emperor Decius in Rome issued a decree against the Christians. In the following months, persecution spread over the entire empire including Crete. The island's proconsul Platimaius "called in writing upon all those living in the land" (Theocharis Detorakis, The Saints of the First Byzantine Period and Literature on them, Athens 1970, pp. 54-55 - in Greek) to attend the inauguration of the Temple to Fortuna at Gortyn.

Ten men who refused to offer sacrifices at the temple were arrested, imprisoned and tortured for about a month. On 23^rd December 250 AD, "having been led out of the city," they were put to death "by the sword" at a place "known to this day as Alonion [threshing floor]." (Theocharis Detorakis, The Saints of the First Byzantine Period and Literature on them, Athens 1970, pp. 56-57).

The anonymous author of the saints' lives preserved their names: "Five were from the city of Gortyn itself, they being Theodoulos, Satornilos, Evporos, Gelasios, Evnikianos... Zotikos of Knossos, Pompios of Lebena, Agathopous of Panormo, Vasiliadis of Kydonia and Evarestos of Herakleion." (Theocharis Detorakis, The Saints of the First Byzantine Period and Literature on them, Athens 1970, pp. 55).