During the great persecution that was being waged against Christians during the reign of the pagan Roman emperor Antoninus, a certain prince named Sebastian was appointed by the emperor to torture Christians. Arriving from Cilicia to Cappadocia, he met a soldier in Comanus named Hermius, an old man with gray hair, a Christian who believed in the one true God and practiced justice. The prince said to Hermius: An order has been sent to me from the Roman emperor Antoninus, ordering that all Christians offer sacrifices to the Roman gods; and if they do not want to, then to subject them to great and cruel tortures. Therefore, Hermius, offer a sacrifice to the gods, and you will be a friend of the emperor and will experience great honors. Listen to me, lest I deliver both your soul and body to torment.

The ascetic Hermias of Christ answered: I am a soldier of the heavenly and immortal King Christ, whose Kingdom will have no end, and therefore I will not submit to a mortal and godless king, whose kingdom is short-lived; but the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will remain unshakable forever; whoever believes in Him will inherit eternal life. I believe in Him. Previously I served Him secretly, but now I serve Him openly, and the devil will not overcome me. You have power over my body, and that by the permission of my God, but no one has power over my soul except the one God who can give me patience and preserve me forever.