The suffering of the holy martyr Meletius Stratilatus and his 1318 warriors

The holy martyr Meletius lived during the reign of Roman emperor Antoninus [Nicodemus in the Sinaxaris and others under the name Antoninus understand Roman emperor Antoninus Heliogabalus, who reigned from 218 to 222 A.D.] , held the position of stratilata [Stratilata means voivode, commander.] and was originally from the southern countries of the Galatian region [Galatia was located almost in the center of the Malayan peninsula].

It was bordered on the north by Paphlagonia, on the west by Bithynia and Phrygia, on the south by Lycaonia and Cappadocia, and on the east by Pontus.] Being a Christian, he prayed to God to completely eradicate the pagan error. When the demons saw his destruction, they cried out and began to weep.

For this Maximian [Hegemon Maximian or Maximus was first ruler of Egypt, and then Antoninus sent him to Galatia to torture Christians] the ruler of the city where the holy martyr was [The city was called Tavia.

The torturer then ordered that he be beaten with iron hammers and subjected to other tortures. After this, Saint Meletius was hanged on a pine tree and nailed to it with nails, from which he died.

And they cut off the heads of Stephen and John, and of all the soldiers that were under their power, with their wives and children, with the sword.