Crescentia of Rome

Holy Martyr Crescentia of Rome, the Nurse, suffered together with the holy martyrs Vitus and Modestus, in the time of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). The Azbyka page tells their story together.

Vitus was the son of a pagan Sicilian nobleman, Hylas. From childhood he burned with a fervent love for the Lord Jesus Christ and prayed to Him unceasingly; the Lord gave him the gift of working miracles, he healed the sick and turned many pagans to Christ. Learning of it, the governor Valerian summoned Hylas and advised him to turn his son from the faith. Just then the emperor had issued an order of persecution, so that not only the boy but the whole house of Hylas might suffer. Hylas could not persuade Vitus and began to beat him. To lure him into fleshly sin he surrounded him with luxury, brought beautiful girls to him, set before him the choicest food, banquets and entertainments, but without result. Vitus did not cease to pray and ask for God's help in temptations. Angels appeared to him and prayed with him. When Hylas came in to his son and looked at the angels, he went blind at once. Hylas promised to renounce the idols, and Vitus healed him, but with a hardened heart he did not keep his promise; his fatherly affection turned to hatred and he resolved to kill him. To save the boy, his tutor, Saint Modestus, and his nurse, Saint Crescentia, both Christians, secretly took him from his parents' house. At a river they found a boat. An angel went with them into the boat and brought them to the land of Lucania.

The saints Vitus and Modestus were brought before Diocletian. The emperor promised Vitus great honours, glory and riches, but the youth refused and confessed his faith with the same boldness. He was shut in prison with Modestus. When Christ appeared to them, strengthening them in their struggle and giving them His help, the chains fell from their hands. Counting the miracle sorcery, Diocletian ordered Vitus thrown into a cauldron of boiling tin; the saint stood in it as in cool water and remained unharmed. Then a huge lion was loosed on him, but the youth signed himself with the Cross, and the beast lay down meekly at his feet and licked his soles. The saints were hung on posts and scraped with iron claws. Saint Crescentia came out from the crowd of onlookers, confessed herself a Christian and rebuked the emperor for cruelty; she was subjected to the same torment. Saint Vitus cried to God: "God, save us by Your power and deliver us". An earthquake began; many pagans died under the collapsing buildings, and Diocletian fled in terror to his palace. An angel took the martyrs down from the posts and carried them to Lucania. Saint Vitus prayed that God would receive their souls in peace and not deprive of His benefits all who would keep their memory. A voice came from heaven: "Your prayer is heard". The saints gladly gave their souls to God. Their passion took place around the year 303. Their memory is kept also on 16 May. The relics of Saint Vitus were moved to Prague. The holy right-⁠believing prince Wenceslas of Bohemia (commemorated on 28 September) built in honour of the martyr Vitus a church in which he was later buried.

Saint Crescentia is commemorated on 29 May and 28 June, in the new style. Their passion is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.