The Holy Martyrs Leontius, Hypatius and Theodulus were Roman soldiers. The Holy Martyr Leontius, a Greek by birth, served as a military commander in the imperial troops in the Phoenician city of Tripoli during the reign of Vespasian (70-79). Christian Leontius was distinguished by his courage and prudence, and the soldiers and citizens of Tripoli treated him with deep respect for his virtues.
The emperor appointed Roman senator Hadrian as governor of the Phoenician region with the authority to persecute Christians and, if they refused to sacrifice to Roman deities, to put them to torment and death. On the way to Phoenicia, Adrian was informed that Saint Leontius had turned many away from worshipping pagan gods. The governor sent the tribune Hypatius with a detachment of soldiers to Tripoli to find and detain the Christian Leontius. On the way, Tribune Hypatius became very ill and, being near death, saw an Angel in a dream who said: "If you want to be healthy, call out three times with your soldiers: 'God Leontius, help me.'" Opening his eyes, Hypatius saw an Angel and said: "I have been sent to detain Leontius, how can I invoke his God?" At this time, the Angel became invisible. Hypatius told the soldiers, including his friend Theodulus, about his dream, and together they called on God, whose Name was confessed by Saint Leontius, three times for help. Hypatius was immediately healed, to the general joy of the soldiers, and only Theodulus sat on the sidelines, reflecting on the miracle. His soul was filled with love for God, and he persuaded Hypatius to immediately go together to the city in search of Saint Leontius.
At the entrance to the city, they were met by an unknown man and invited to his house, where he generously treated the travelers. Upon learning that the hospitable host was Saint Leontius, they fell to their knees and asked him to enlighten them with faith in the True God. Baptism took place here, and when Saint Leontius pronounced a prayer invocation over them in the Name of the Holy Trinity, a bright cloud overshadowed the newly baptized and blessed rain fell. The rest of the soldiers, in search of their chief, came to Tripoli, where the ruler Adrian also arrived. Upon learning of what had happened, he ordered Saint Leontius, Tribune Hypatius and Theodulus to be brought to him and, threatening them with torment and death, demanded the renunciation of Christ and sacrifice to the Roman gods. All the martyrs firmly confessed their faith in Christ. Saint Hypatius was hung on a pillar and whittled with iron claws, while Saint Theodulus was mercilessly beaten with sticks. Seeing the steadfastness of the martyrs, their heads were cut off with a sword. Saint Leontius was sent to prison after being tortured. In the morning, he appeared before the governor. Adrian tried to seduce the holy confessor with honors and rewards, and, having achieved nothing, he tortured him.: The holy martyr hung upside down on a pillar all day with a heavy stone around his neck, but nothing could make him renounce Christ. The ruler ordered the sufferer to be beaten with sticks until he died. The body of the holy Martyr Leontius was thrown out of the city, but Christians honorably interred him near Tripoli. The death of the holy martyrs followed around 70-79.
The interrogation of Saint Leontius, his sufferings and death were recorded on pewter tablets by a scribe who was present at the trial. These tablets were placed in the tomb of the holy martyr.