Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus

Holy Martyrs Alphius (Alfio), Philadelphus (Filadelfo) and Cyrinus (Cirino) were, according to the Byzantine tradition of southern Italy, three brothers from Vaste, in the diocese of Otranto, put to death for Christ at Lentini in Sicily, about the year 251 (according to one source, 253), in the persecution of Decius Trajan. The Church commemorates them on 10 May. They are the patrons of the town of Lentini. The town of San Fratello in Sicily bears their name.

The sources do not agree on the relationship: the brothers suffered together with their sister Benedicta, according to the Russian source, or with their mother Benedicta, according to the English one. The details of their martyrdom are traditional, drawn up at a later date in the Benedictine Acts of Saint Alphius. According to these Acts, Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus, aged nineteen to twenty-⁠two, and Benedicta were arrested with other Christians in the persecution of Decius. They were taken to Pozzuoli, near Naples, where one of the Christians, Onesimus, was put to death. The brothers were taken on to Sicily, where they were martyred at Lentini. Alphius had his tongue torn from his mouth, Philadelphus was burned at the stake, and Cyrinus was boiled alive in oil. No details are given of the death of Benedicta.

Their commemoration is on 10 May at Trecastagni in Sicily, and in the United States, at Lawrence, Massachusetts, on the Labor Day weekend.