Clement of Ancyra


Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Ancyra or simply Clement of Ancyra was a bishop who served during the rule of Roman emperor Diocletian. He was arrested by Roman authorities and tried by Diocletian. Emperor Diocletian attempted to convert Clement to Paganism but Clement refused and withstood tremendous torture. Clement was eventually beheaded by a Roman soldier whilst he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the year 312. He is venerated on 23 January according to the Gregorian calendar and on 5 February according to the Julian calendar in some Eastern Orthodox countries together with his disciple Agathangelus of Rome.
Clement's relics are in the saint's altar in the basilica of Our Lady of Trapani in Trapani.
The Saint Clement Church is the only structure survived from the Byzantine era in Ankara.