Hieromartyr Artemon the Presbyter of Laodicea in Syria

Artemon was a presbyter in Laodicea in Syria during the persecution under Diocletian. When the imperial envoy Patricius arrived and found the temple statue of Artemis destroyed, he arrested Christians. According to his Life, Patricius was struck by illness and recovered at the prayer of Bishop Sisinnius, but then seized Artemon, who was walking with wild deer and asses, and had him brought to Caesarea in chains.

There Artemon was tortured with a red-hot grate and iron rods. The Life tells that he went into the temple of Asclepius and the serpents kept there died at his word, which led the priest Vitalius to believe. Artemon baptized many converts, was sent on to the province of Asia, and was seized by pagans and beheaded, about 303.