Saint of the Day: St. Barlaam, Martyr

Barlaam was born at Antioch. He lived as an uneducated Christian peasant and was jailed for his faith during the persecution of Diocletian. He was brought to trial in 304, was scourged, racked, tortured, and ordered to deny his faith, but refused. In an effort to make it look as though Barlaam were making an incense offering to an idol, the judge had the prisoner's hand covered in incense, then held over the coals of a brazier. He thought that when Barlaam flinched from the pain, the incense would fall in the fire, he could declare that Barlaam had made sacrifice, and he could be turned loose as an example. Instead, Barlaam never flinched. When his entire hand had burned off, the judge gave up and had him murdered. He was a martyr for the faith.

He died in 304 at Caesarea, Cappadocia.