St. Platon

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Early in December, we commemorate the righteous martyr St. Plato.

What follows is a brief account of his life and martyrdom, drawn from The Prologue of Ohrid by the blessed Bishop Nikolai Velimirović of Serbia:

“Plato was from the town of Ancyra in Galatia. He was a Christian by birth and upbringing. Even in his youth, he displayed great maturity in every virtue.

Plato did not conceal his faith in Christ the Lord but proclaimed it openly, denouncing idolaters for worshiping lifeless objects instead of the Living Creator. For this boldness, he was brought to trial before Governor Agrippinus, who interrogated and severely tortured him. When the governor urged him to preserve his life by sacrificing to the idols, Plato replied:

‘There are two deaths—the one temporal and the other eternal; so also are there two lives—one of short duration and the other without end.’

Enraged, Agrippinus subjected him to even more horrific torments. Among them, red-hot iron balls were placed upon his naked body, and strips were cut from his skin. The saint cried out: ‘Torture me more harshly, so that your inhumanity and my endurance may be more clearly seen.’

When the torturer mocked him by saying his namesake, Plato the philosopher, was a pagan, the martyr responded: ‘I am not like Plato, nor is Plato like me except in name. I learn and teach the wisdom of Christ; Plato taught a wisdom that is foolishness before God.’

He was thrown into prison, where he remained for eighteen days without food or water. The guards were astonished that he could survive so long in such a state, but Plato told them:

‘You are satisfied by meat, but I am satisfied by holy prayers. Wine gladdens you, but Christ the True Vine gladdens me.’

St. Plato was finally beheaded around the year 266, receiving the crown of eternal glory.”

This holy martyr’s life and witness stand as a bright lamp for us in these dark days. Look at what he suffered for the Lord. Look at how he deprived himself of earthly comforts—not because he had to, but because he chose to, for the sake of eternal life. He could have remained silent. He could have blended in. He could have avoided the wrath of the governor and lived comfortably into old age. But he did not. He chose instead to confess Christ before men.

“There are two deaths—the one temporal and the other eternal; so also are there two lives—one of short duration and the other without end.”

How short is this life! Are all of us called to suffer such torments for the Lord? No—not all. But every one of us is called to witness. Each of us is called to faithfulness in the arena that God has set before us, however small or hidden it may seem.

How often are we tempted by smaller sacrifices to the idols of this age—comfort, success, vanity, the fleeting approval of others? How often have we surrendered hours—days even—to the pursuit of more income, more status, more ease—at the cost of prayer, of stillness, of worship, of time with our family or those in need? And for what? Can we buy back time once it’s gone? Can we trade the temporary for the eternal once the hour of judgment comes?

We know the answer.

So let us be moved when we hear the lives of the Saints—not to despair, but to reflection and repentance. Where does our heart truly lie? What are we clinging to? What have we placed before God? And what can the world offer us that death will not take away?

The saints inspire us, yes —they also confront us. Their lives call out across the centuries, reminding us of our true homeland and our true destiny. Let us not waste this short life on things that perish. Let us live now as those who seek the Kingdom which cannot be shaken.

By the prayers of the holy martyr Plato, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Amen.