He was the greatest Biblical scholar of his era – a marvelous classical editor who knew the Holy Scriptures better than anyone else in the world of Third Century A.D. Palestine.
Because of his great skill at editing manuscripts, Pamphilus was given the supremely important task of correcting the errors in numerous copies of the New Testament. These sacred documents were the only means of preserving the Word of God in written form, and they represented a priceless treasure for the early Holy Church
The challenge Pamphilus faced was formidable, and involved endless hours of patient and scrupulous study in which every single word of each document had to be scrutinized with enormous care. But this humble servant of Jesus Christ had been well prepared for the challenge, and he did not shrink from it. For many years, he worked day and night on the manuscripts, and his contribution to the future of Christianity was immense – since these precious manuscripts would help to bring tens of thousands of converts to the Holy Church
The gifts that this devout scholar and editor gave to the world were truly immeasurable. And yet his earthly reward would be a grisly martyrdom in which he was arrested, interrogated, tortured and then finally beheaded at the hands of the tyrannical Firmilian, Governor of Palestine around 300 A.D.
A learned and pious man, Pamphilus was born of an aristocratic family in the ancient Phoenician city of Beirut (today part of Lebanon Alexandria , Egypt Alexandria Alexandria
After finishing his studies, Pamphilus decided to enter the Christian priesthood and was ordained in Caesarea – the great seaport city of Palestine
transcribe and correct some of the oldest copies of these priceless documents. Soon he was being assisted by a talented disciple, the great early Church Historian Eusebius, who would one day write the biography of this humble but accomplished saint.
Unfortunately for the great scholar, however, these were the terrible years of persecution by the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. In 307, the Roman rulers threw Pamphilos into prison for proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ. After spending two years in a jail cell, where he was frequently tortured, he was finally beheaded at the direction of the merciless Provincial Governor, Firmilian.
He did not die in isolation, however. According to Church historians, no fewer than eleven other martyrs (five of them from Egypt and six from various other countries around the Middle East ) died at the hands of Firmilian and his soldiers on that same day.
The Holy Martyr Pamphilus perished on February 16, 309, while still serving as a presbyter in the Holy Church at Caesarea . His two assistants – Saint Valens and Saint Paul
The carnage was terrible to behold on that day in Palestine Turkey Caesarea were executed, along with the Holy Martyr Pamphilus and his other friends.
Unburied and unlamented, the bodies of all twelve martyrs lay naked and exposed on the earth for four days after the victims were killed. Miraculously, however, the animals and birds who normally devour such exposed flesh would not touch these remains, and the bodies of the saints who had died for the Holy Gospel of Christ Jesus that day remained perfectly pristine. Amazed and alarmed by this miracle, the murderous pagans at last allowed the bodies of the martyrs to be given proper burial.
The life of the Holy Martyr Pamphilus teaches us a great deal about the wonderful gift of humility. A great scholar and a gifted editor, Pamphilus nonetheless understood that he would be required to pay the highest price for his faith, and that no mercy would be shown to him because of his great learning and his wide reputation as a thinker.
He went to his death with a prayer of praise for Almighty God on his lips, and he considered himself fortunate to have been slaughtered like a sheep on a hillside – simply because his death would add to the Glory of Almighty God!
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
When fearful instruments of torture were brought forth, the noble athletes of the Lord went with gladness and an undaunted spirit to endure them all; for they set the flesh at naught and did not spare their bodies; now they have inherited glory lasting for ever. And without ceasing, they all intercede for us, who laud the great conflicts they underwent.
