July 26: Saint Hermolaos
Hieromartyrs Hermolaos, Hermippos and Hermokrates of Nikomedia, were among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000 Christians were burned alive in a church at Nikomedia in the year 303 (December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They lived in remote places and did not cease to preach Christianity to the pagans. The young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, July 27) often passed by the house in which St Hermolaos had concealed himself. Once St Hermolaos chanced to meet the youth and asked him to stop by his house.