The life of St Callinicus of Gangra
In the Galatian city of Ancyra he was arrested and brought before the governor Sacerdon, known for his harsh persecution of Christians, who ordered him beaten and torn with iron hooks when he refused to sacrifice to the old gods. Unmoved, Callinicus was fitted with nail-studded sandals and driven on foot toward the city of Gangra, where he was to be burned.
Along the difficult road, tradition holds that Callinicus prayed for his exhausted guards and a spring of water broke from the rock to relieve their thirst, though fear of punishment kept them from letting him go free even so. Reaching Gangra, he gave thanks in prayer and went willingly into the fire prepared for him, his body said to have remained unharmed by the flames though his soul departed. Believers recovered his remains and buried them with honor, and his memory has been kept in the region ever since.
