Isidore of Chios was a 3rd-century Egyptian soldier serving in the Roman navy. While stationed on the Aegean island of Chios, he declared his Christian faith to his fleet commander. Refusing to renounce his beliefs or worship state deities, he faced execution during the persecutions led by Emperor Decius. He was beheaded and his remains were discarded in a cistern, an event that occurred around 251.
Martyrdom and legend
Following his death, his companions Ammonius and Myrope reportedly retrieved his body for burial. Local legend suggests that the trees on the southern part of Chios wept for him, which is said to be the source of the island's mastic resin. Myrope was eventually buried next to him, and the site of their graves became associated with reports of miraculous healings.
Veneration and legacy
A chapel and later a church were established at his burial site in Chios. His reputation as a protector of sailors spread throughout the Mediterranean. In 1125, his relics were transferred from the island to the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, where they are kept in a small chapel containing his sarcophagus.