The first was a deacon and the second a reader of the church in Thessaloniki; the first adorned with the gray hair of old age and the second with youthful chastity. During the time of Diocletian's persecution of Christians, these two were summoned to court. They responded with joy, and holding each other's hand they walked, shouting: "We are Christians!" All the advice of the judge, to deny Christ and worship idols, remained in vain. After a long imprisonment 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 Agathopos into the depths, he exclaimed: "Behold, with a second baptism we are washed from all our sins and go pure to Christ Jesus!" — Their drowned bodies were soon washed ashore by the sea, and the Christians buried them honorably. St. Theodulus appeared to his acquaintances as a bright angel, dressed in white, and ordered them to distribute all his remaining property to the poor. These wonderful soldiers of Christ suffered honorably during the reign of Emperor Diocletian and Prince Faustine of Thessalonica, in the year 303.

Venerable Mark of Thrace.