The first was a deacon and the second a reader of the church in Thessaloniki; the first decorated with the gray hair of an old man and the second with the wisdom of a young man. During Diocletian's persecution of Christians, these two were called to court. They responded with joy, and holding each other's hands they went shouting: "we are Christians!" All the judge's advice to renounce Christ and worship idols remained in vain. After prolonged darkness and starvation, they were sentenced to death by drowning in the sea. Then they tied their hands upside down and hung a heavy stone around their necks and led them to drown them. When they first wanted to push Agathopoda into the deep, he exclaimed: "here, with the second baptism, we are washed from all our sins and go clean to Christ Jesus!" — Their sunken bodies are soon washed ashore by the sea, and the Christians give them an honorable burial. St. Theodulus appeared to his acquaintances, like a bright angel, in a white suit, and ordered them to distribute all his remaining property to the poor. These wonderful soldiers of Christ died honorably during the time of Emperor Diocletian and Prince Faustina of Thessaloniki, in 303 years.

Venerable Marko Tračeski. Easter fast.