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1
Caesarius the African
Deacon and martyr, with presbyter Julian, drowned at Terracina in Italy, 2nd c.
Caesarius, a deacon from Africa visiting Italy, denounced the pagan custom of having one youth per year immolate himself to the demons by jumping off a cliff in honor of the god Apollo. The priest of Apollo had him arrested and taken before the governor. He was sentenced to be sewn into a sack and thrown into the sea. He was martyred together with Julian, a local presbyter. His feast is held on 1 November. In the fourth century, Emperor Valentinian was cured at the shrine of Caesarius at Terracina. The emperor then decided to move his relics to Rome. They were taken to a church on the Palatine Hill, and when they were later moved to a new church near the Appian Way which got the name San Cesareo in Palatio.
3
Hilary
Deacon and martyr, with presbyter Valentine, beheaded at Viterbo near Rome during the persecutions under Diocletian, 304.
Aeithalas
Deacon and martyr in Persia, with bishop Acepsimus of Naeson and presbyter Joseph, killed in 379.
The three Christians lived in Persia at the time of King Shapur II. Acepsimus was known for spreading the faith. After Shapur began his persecution of Christians in Persia, all three were seized. Having endured cruel imprisonment for three years, Acepsimus was beheaded, and his two companions were stoned to death. The Orthodox Church commemorates them together on 3 November, but Aeithalas is sometimes also remembered on 1 September.
10
Anianus
Deacon and martyr, with bishop Demetrius, Eustosius, and twenty companions, killed at Antioch in Syria, date unknown.
14
Vénérand of Evreux
Deacon and martyr, with bishop Maximus, killed at Acquigny in Normandy in 275. [also May 25]
Vénérand was born at Troyes, where he witnessed to Christ under torture. According to legend, he was killed by a spear in 275 at Acquigny near Louviers in Normandy. Since his relics were put in a chef (head), he may have been decapitated. Accompanying him in death was his bishop, Maximus of Evreux, also venerated as a saint.
15
Abidus
Deacon and martyr of Edessa in Syria, killed by burning, 322.
17
Zachaeus
Deacon and martyr, with Alpheus, beheaded at Caesarea in Palestine, 303.
In the first year of Diocletian’s persecution, Zachaeus and Alpheus received capital punishment after having undergone many tortures.
Eugene
Deacon at Florence under Zenobius, and a disciple of Ambrose of Milan, died in 422.
18
Romanos of Caesarea
Deacon and martyr, killed at Antioch in Syria, c. 304.
In 303 or 304, at the beginning of the Diocletian persecution, a deacon called Romanos of Caesarea in Palestine suffered martyrdom at Antioch. Upon the proclamation of Diocletian’s edict, Romanos strengthened the Christians of Antioch and openly exhorted the weaker brothers and sisters, who were willing to offer heathen sacrifices, not to waver in the faith. He was taken prisoner, condemned to death by fire, and bound to the stake; however, as the Emperor Galerius was then in Antioch, Romanos was brought before him. At the emperor’s command his tongue was cut out. Tortured in various ways in prison, he was finally strangled.
Eusebius speaks of his martyrdom in De martyribus Palestin, c. ii. Prudentius (in Peristephanon, X in PL, LX, 444 sq.) relates other details and gives Romanos a companion in martyrdom, a Christian named Barulas. Several historians, among them Baronius, consider that there were two martyrs named Romanos at Antioch, though more likely there was but the one whom Eusebius mentions. Prudentius introduced legendary features into his account, and his connection of the martyrdom of Barulas with that of Romanos is probably arbitrary.
19
Faustus
Deacon and martyr of Alexandria, Egypt, killed 4th c.
Faustus was the companion in exile of bishop Dionysius of Alexandria. He was killed in extreme old age.
29
Sisinius
Deacon and martyr, with presbyter Saturninus, sentenced to hard labor and later martyred at Rome, 309.
Saturninus was a presbyter from Carthage who went to Rome and was arrested with deacon Sisinius, during the persecutions of Emperor Maximian. They were sentenced to hard labor and either died during their ordeal or were tortured and then beheaded. Saturninus lived, was martyred, and was buried on the Via Saleria in Rome, although details are not reliable.
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