SAINT BABYLAS

Saint Babylas, Patriarch of Constantinople, Babylas‭, ‬Bishop of Antioch‭, ‬and with him Martyrs Urban‭, ‬Prilidian‭, ‬and Epolonius‭, ‬and their mother Christodula At the trial with Bishop Babylas were three young brothers, who did not forsake him even in this most difficult moment. Seeing them, the emperor asked, “Who are these children?" “These are my spiritual children,” the saint replied, “and I have raised them in piety, I have given them an education, cultivated them with guidance, and here before you in a small body are these great young men and perfect Christians. Test them and see.” Saint Babylas‭ (‬253‭) ‬was a patriarch of Antioch‭ (‬237–253‭), ‬who died in prison during the Decian persecution‭.‬
He has the distinction of being the first saint recorded as having had his remains moved or‭ ‬"translated‮"‬‭ ‬to be venerated;‬‭ ‬a practice that was to become extremely common in later centuries‭.‬

He was the successor of Zebinus as Bishop of Antioch in the reign of the Emperor Gordian III‭ (‬238-244‭), ‬being the‭ ‬twelfth bishop of the see‭.

During the Decian persecution‭ (‬250‭) ‬he made an unwavering confession of faith and was thrown into prison where he died from his sufferings‭. ‬He was‭, ‬therefore‭, ‬venerated as a martyr‭.‬

Saint John Chrysostom›s homily upon Saint Babylas and the Acts of the Martyrs report the following story‭, ‬that Babylas once refused the visiting pagan‭ ‬emperor‭, ‬on account of his sinful ways‭, ‬permission to enter the church and had ordered him to take his place among the penitents‭. ‬John does not give the name of the emperor‭; ‬the Acts mention Numerian‭. ‬It is more likely the contemporary Philip the Arab of‭ ‬whom Eusebius‭ (‬Historia ecclesiastica‭, ‬VI‭, ‬34‭) ‬reports that a bishop would not let him enter the gathering of Christians at the Easter vigil‭.‬
Later legend elaborates on this‭, ‬stating that Babylas demanded that he do penance for his part in the murder of the young Gordian III before he would allow Philip to celebrate Easter‭.‬