ABSTRACT
St Phoibammon was the grandson of Antiochus, whom the Emperor Valentinian (or Valerian) had appointed governor of Egypt.1 He grew up, therefore, in elevated society. While young, he converted to Christianity, receiving divine favours. He resolutely refused to offer cult to idols. This came to the knowledge of the Emperor Maximian, who ordered that he be forcibly reconverted to paganism. Instead, however, he converted members of his entourage, including a soldier called Dionysius. It may be inferred that Phoibammon himself was an officer of the imperial army. Ultimately he was tortured and decapitated.
