Alexander of Rome

Saint Alexander of Rome was the son of Claudius and Praepedigna and died burned at Ostia, near Rome, with his family, in the time of the emperor Diocletian. He is commemorated on 24 August.

The holy martyr Susanna the virgin was the daughter of the priest Gabinius and niece of Saint Pope Gaius (283 to 296). She was brought up in strict piety and from youth devoted herself to God. Her family was related to the emperor Diocletian, who heard of her virtue and beauty. Wishing to give her in marriage to his co-⁠emperor Maximian Hercules, the emperor sent to the priest Gabinius a relative of his, the official Claudius, then his brother Maximus. Both of them, together with Claudius's wife Praepedigna and their sons Alexander and Cufius, after talks with the devout family, received Baptism. Learning that a whole family of the emperor's relatives had turned to Christianity, Diocletian sent them into exile. Soon the martyrs were burned at Ostia, near Rome, and the ashes thrown into the sea. The virgin Susanna was taken into the palace, and the empress was charged to persuade her to submit, but the empress, a secret Christian, supported the martyr in her resolve to keep her virginity for the Lord and announced to the emperor the virgin's unshakable refusal to marry a pagan. Diocletian gave his co-⁠emperor leave to dishonour her, but an angel protected her. Macedonius tried to compel her to sacrifice to the idols; she answered: "I offer myself in sacrifice to my Lord." Then Macedonius cut off her head. The empress secretly buried the saint's body; the room where the killing took place was consecrated as a church by Saint Pope Gaius. Soon the father of Susanna, the priest Gabinius, died a martyr, and in 296 the holy hierarch Gaius too.