Saint Callistratus, Roman soldier martyred under Diocletian, converts 184 soldiers through miracles
What the video says
During the reign of Diocletian, the Christian soldier Callistratus was discovered praying and refused to sacrifice to idols. He was beaten, forced to swallow a vat of water, sewn into a sack, and thrown into the sea.
Two dolphins brought him safely to shore, leading 49 witnessing soldiers to confess Christ. While imprisoned, Callistratus taught the new converts. The next day all 50 were bound and thrown into deep water, but their bonds broke and they rose unharmed. A voice from heaven encouraged them, a pagan idol shattered, and 135 more soldiers believed. The commander ordered Callistratus and the 49 cut to pieces, and a church was later built at the site.
Key moments
- 0:00 Callistratus serves as a Roman soldier under Diocletian and practices Christianity in secret.
- 0:34 Officials discover his faith, he refuses to renounce Christ, is beaten and forced to swallow a vat of water.
- 1:07 He is sewn into a sack and thrown into the sea; the sack tears open and two dolphins carry him to shore.
- 1:07 Forty-nine soldiers witness the miracle, repent, and confess faith in Christ.
- 1:38 Callistratus teaches the converts in prison; the next day all fifty are bound and thrown into deep water.
- 2:14 Their bonds miraculously break, they rise unharmed, a heavenly voice encourages them, and a pagan idol falls and shatters.
- 2:14 Another 135 soldiers confess Christ after witnessing these events.
- 2:46 The commander orders Callistratus and the original 49 cut into pieces; years later a church is built on the martyrdom site.
The post recounts the martyrdom of Saint Callistratus, a Roman soldier serving under Emperor Diocletian during a period of intense persecution. Callistratus practiced Christianity in secret while fulfilling his military duties. His faith was discovered when fellow soldiers observed him praying.
He was arrested and brought before officials who demanded he sacrifice to idols. Callistratus refused to renounce Christ. The authorities beat him severely and forced him to swallow a vat of water. They then sewed him inside a sack and threw him into the sea.
The sack tore open, and two dolphins carried Callistratus safely to shore. Forty-nine soldiers witnessed this miracle, repented, and confessed faith in Christ. While imprisoned together, Callistratus taught the new converts.
The next day, all fifty men were bound and thrown into deep water. Their bonds broke miraculously, and they rose unharmed. A voice from heaven encouraged them, and a pagan idol fell and shattered. After witnessing these events, another 135 soldiers confessed Christ.
The commander ordered Callistratus and the original forty-nine converts cut into pieces. Years later, a church was built at the site of their martyrdom.
Main points
- Callistratus, a Roman soldier under Diocletian, refuses to renounce Christ and is tortured.
- Sewn in a sack and thrown into the sea, he is brought ashore by two dolphins.
- Forty-nine soldiers witness the miracle, confess Christ, and are taught by Callistratus in prison.
- All fifty are bound and thrown into deep water; bonds break, they rise unharmed, a heavenly voice speaks, an idol shatters.
- Another 135 soldiers convert; the commander orders Callistratus and the forty-nine cut to pieces; a church is later built at the site.