Born in Jerusalem, of a Christian father and a pagan mother, as Neanius. His father died and his mother raised him in the spirit of Roman idolatry. Emperor Diocletian sent him with a detachment to exterminate the Christians in Alexandria. On that journey, something similar to what had once happened to Saul happened to him: the Lord Himself appeared to him and a shining cross appeared in the air. Duke Neanius had such a cross made and under it he went to the Christians in the Hagarians instead. Then he announced to his mother that he was a Christian. After torture, he was thrown into prison, where the Lord appeared to him again, who baptized him and gave him the name Procopius. His mother also believed in Christ and was killed with 12 other women. Saint Procopius was beheaded in 303.

Saint Procopius the Foolish. Venerable Theophilus the Myrrh-bearing.