The Hieromartyrs Hypatius, Bishop of Ephesus, and Andrew the Presbyter are commemorated on September 21. These courageous eighth-century saints suffered under the iconoclast emperor Leo III the Isaurian, who persecuted Christians who venerated holy icons.

Hypatius and Andrew studied together as young men in a monastery. Hypatius embraced the monastic life and eventually became Bishop of Ephesus, while Andrew entered the clergy and zealously instructed the faithful in the Christian faith.

When sacred icons were removed from churches, trampled, and burned, the two saints publicly defended their proper veneration. They urged their flock to remain faithful to Orthodoxy and refused to accept the emperor’s iconoclastic teaching.

Emperor Leo summoned the saints and arranged a debate concerning the veneration of icons. Hypatius and Andrew consistently defended the ancient Christian practice, explaining that honor offered before an icon passes to the person represented.

Unable to overcome their arguments, the emperor imprisoned and brutally tortured them. Their beards were covered with tar and burned, and holy icons were burned upon their heads. Nevertheless, the saints remained steadfast.

They were dragged through the city for public mockery and eventually killed. Their bodies were cast out to be devoured by dogs, but faithful Christians reverently recovered and buried them.

May these holy hieromartyrs strengthen us to defend the traditions of the Church without fear.

Holy Hieromartyrs Hypatius and Andrew, pray for us!

00:00 Hieromartyrs Hypatius and Andrew
00:26 Persecution under Leo the Isaurian
00:34 Their early life and studies together
00:42 Hypatius becomes a monk and Andrew a clergyman
00:48 The emperor begins persecuting icon veneration
00:56 The saints rise in defense of holy icons
01:04 Summoned before the iconoclast emperor
01:11 The debate over the veneration of icons
01:19 Imprisoned for remaining faithful
01:28 The martyrs are brutally tortured
01:36 Holy icons burned upon their heads
01:45 Dragged publicly through the city
01:53 Their martyrdom and reverent burial

#OrthodoxSaints #Hieromartyrs #HolyIcons #Iconoclasm #EasternChristianity #SaintOfTheDay #OrthodoxFaith #CatholicSaints #September21

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives

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