Claudius of Rome

Holy Martyr Claudius of Rome, the commentariensis, that is, the head of the prisons of Rome, is mentioned in the account of the holy martyr Sebastian of Milan and his companions. The Azbyka page shows Claudius mainly through his acts in this story.

Sebastian had been born at Narbonne in Gaul and had been educated at Milan. In the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305) he was commander of the palace guard, a brave man, truthful in speech and just in judgment, loved by the soldiers, and a Christian in secret, greatly helping his brethren in the faith. Two Christian brothers, Marcellinus and Mark, held in prison, had wavered in their resolve to suffer for Christ because of the tears of their pagan parents, Tranquillinus and Marcia, their wives and their children. Sebastian came to the imperial treasurer, in whose house they were kept, and urged them in a fervent speech to stand firm. His face shone like that of an angel, and Zoe, wife of the treasurer Nicostratus, who had been mute for six years, was healed after the saint signed her with the Cross. Then all those present believed.

Nicostratus asked Claudius, head of the prisons of Rome, to send all the prisoners to his house. Sebastian saw that all were worthy of baptism and called the presbyter Polycarp, who prepared them and led them to the sacrament in the evening. Meanwhile Claudius reported that the prefect of Rome, Agrestius Chromatius, was summoning Nicostratus to explain why he had gathered the prisoners in his house. Nicostratus told Claudius of his wife's healing, and Claudius brought his sick sons, Symphorian and Felix, to Sebastian. In the evening the priest Polycarp baptized Tranquillinus, his relatives and friends, Nicostratus and his family, Claudius with his sons, and sixteen condemned prisoners, sixty-⁠four persons in all.

Later Claudius remained in Rome among those preparing to suffer. Zoe was seized while praying at the tomb of the apostle Peter and died hanged by her hair; the priest Tranquillinus was stoned. Nicostratus, Castorius, Claudius, Victorinus and Symphorian were seized on the riverbank while looking for the bodies of the martyrs. They refused to sacrifice to idols and were drowned in the sea with stones tied round their necks. Sebastian was shot with arrows, healed by Irene, then killed at the hippodrome and thrown into a refuse pit; the Christian woman Lucina buried his body in the catacombs.

Saint Claudius is commemorated on 31 December, in the new style. The life of Sebastian is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.