Asterius of Caesarea in Palestine

Holy Martyr Asterius of Caesarea in Palestine was a Christian Roman senator. In the sources he is called Asterius Synkletikos, that is, of the senatorial order. He lived in the time of the pagan emperors Valerian (253-259) and Gallienus (260-268) and received the crown of martyrdom by beheading in the year 260. He is commemorated on 20 August.

As a senator of Rome, Asterius held firmly to the Christian faith, although the persecution was at its height. Once, being in Palestine, he came to the city of Caesarea Philippi, where, according to custom, a pagan feast was being held with a sacrifice offered to an idol. A demon that lived in the idol made the sacrifice vanish from the eyes of the people, and this was regarded as a great wonder. Saint Asterius drove out the demon by prayer. The sacrifice no longer vanished, and the pagans stopped holding their lawless feast.

Asterius was present at the suffering of the martyr Marinus (commemorated on 16 December). After he was executed, Asterius took off his senator's robe, spread it on the ground and wrapped in it the head and body of the holy martyr Marinus. He carried the holy remains on his shoulders to the grave and buried them with honour. For this deed he himself was condemned to the same death and beheaded.