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He was born at Heraclia on the coast of the Sea of Marmara. He lived during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. He was the bishop of Heraclia in Thrace. When his church was closed by the Roman soldiers, he told them that God dwells in men's hearts not within the walls. He summoned the service in the open air. Bassus the governor of the city ordered him to hand over the church's books and relics which Philip and his deacon Hermes refused to do. When Philip and Hermes the deacon refused to sacrifice for Hercules the chief and name god of the city, Philip was dragged to jail by his feet. After tortured in jail for seven months, Philip, Hermes and another priest called Severus were taken to Hadrianople ( modern Edirne ), where they were beaten and tortured for weeks, and finally both were sentenced to death. St. Philip was so much weary of the tortures, he had to be carried to execution. |
