Armenian Church commemorates Sts. Captain Andre and his army, Martyrs Kalinikos and Dometios

The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates Sts. Captain Andre and his army, Martyrs Kalinikos and Dometios, today, August 6.

Captain Andre is a Uni-Christian saint who was martyred for the sake of spreading Christianity. He was from Cilicia and lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. As a high-ranking officer, he served in the Royal Army of Syria, and he was a Christian.

During the war against Persians, when his Army consisting of nearly 600 soldiers was forced to retreat, the brave Captain encouraged the soldiers with the name of Jesus Christ and returning the Army to the field of battle, won the war. Following the victory the whole Army converted to Christianity. General Commander of the entire Army, becoming aware of that fact, sent armed forces and killed all Christian soldiers in the gorge of Turos.

Kalinikos was a Christian from Galatia. Being a seller of vegetable oil, he moved from one place to another and preached the Christian faith. He was imprisoned and forced to renounce Christ; he refused, and being subjected to severe torments, was martyred.

Dometios was from a noble Christian family from Tarson. He was the contemporary of Emperor Diocletian. Being a physician, he traveled to various places and healed the needy patients by means of both his medical knowledge and skills and the strength of his faith. Meanwhile, he consoled the Christians who were being subjected to torment. However, soon he was imprisoned and was taken to Nicomedia for being subjected to trial. Despite his great desire to be martyred, while being carried for subjecting to torments, on this way he stopped for a minute to pray and passed away.