Confessor 3rd century

Confessor Quintus of Phrygia

died 283

Also known as Quintus of Phrygia

A Christian of Phrygia, given to almsgiving and the healing of the sick by prayer, who confessed Christ under torture and, surviving his tormentors, lived out his days in holiness.

Feast Day
July 6
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Commemorated as

The Holy Confessor and Wonderworker Quintus of Phrygia

Come to them for
Healing

Life

Quintus of Phrygia was a third-century Christian of Asia Minor remembered as a confessor and wonderworker. According to his synaxarion life, he came from Phrygia, a Roman province in Asia Minor, and was raised from childhood in the Christian faith and in piety. He is commemorated in the Orthodox Church on July 6.

His life is set during the reign of the Emperor Aurelian (270-275), whose decrees required sacrifice to the Roman gods. Quintus became known for almsgiving and for healing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits through prayer. Confessing Christ under interrogation and torture, he survived his sufferings and continued his ministry for roughly a further decade before dying peacefully, traditionally in the year 283.

Timeline 2 moments Read Hide
  1. 270-275 Reign of Aurelian Quintus ministers in Phrygia and Aeolis during the reign of the Emperor Aurelian, whose edicts demanded sacrifice to the Roman gods.
  2. c. 283 Repose After roughly ten years of service and wonderworking following his confession, Quintus dies peacefully.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Life and Ministry

By tradition Quintus settled at a village recorded as Aiolida (also given as Neolida) in the Aeolis region, where he distributed alms to the poor and, by his prayers, healed those afflicted by unclean spirits. His reputation as a worker of miracles dates from this period of charitable service.

The local governor, named Rufus, attempted to compel Quintus to offer sacrifice to the pagan idols. According to the account, Rufus was himself seized by a demonic fit, and Quintus healed him in the name of Christ. The governor, moved by this, released the saint and offered him gifts.

Confession and Sufferings

Travelling toward Pergamum, Quintus was seized by pagans from the city of Cumae (also given as Cyme or Cimum) and tortured because he was a Christian. The synaxarion relates that a powerful earthquake then struck, destroying a pagan temple and its idols, after which he was released.

A further official, named Clearchus (Klearchos), arrested him again and ordered that the saint's legs be broken; by the grace of God, the tradition holds, he was restored. Because he endured these torments without dying from them, he is honored as a confessor rather than a martyr.

Later Years and Repose

After his confession Quintus is said to have lived about ten more years in the service of his neighbors, continuing to work many miracles. He died peacefully, by tradition in the year 283. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on July 6; a commemoration on March 2 is also recorded, and he is venerated in both the Eastern and pre-schism Western traditions.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints