Cufius of Rome

Holy Martyr Cufius of Rome was the son of Claudius and Prepedigna, brother of Alexander, and was burned at Ostia, in the time of the emperor Diocletian, with his family. The Azbyka page mentions him in the account of the holy martyr Susanna the virgin and of those who suffered with her: the holy hieromartyr Gaius, pope of Rome, the presbyter Gabinius, Claudius, Maximus, Prepedigna, Alexander and Cufius.

Susanna, daughter of the presbyter Gabinius and niece of the holy pope Gaius (283-296), was raised in strict Christian piety and from youth gave herself to God. Her family was related to the emperor Diocletian (284-305), who had heard of her virtue and beauty and wished to give her in marriage to his co-⁠emperor, Maximian Herculius. He sent to Gabinius the official Claudius, his relative, and after him Claudius's brother Maximus. After speaking with the devout family, both, with Claudius's wife Prepedigna and the sons Alexander and Cufius, received Baptism. Learning that a whole family of his relatives had become Christians, Diocletian sent them into exile. Soon the saints were burned at Ostia, near Rome, and their ashes thrown into the sea.

Susanna was taken into the palace, and the empress, a secret Christian, supported her in keeping her virginity for the Lord. Diocletian permitted his co-⁠emperor to dishonour her, but an angel guarded her. Macedonius tried to bring her to sacrifice to idols, and she answered that she offered herself as a sacrifice to her Lord. Then he cut off her head. The empress buried the saint's body in secret, and the room where she was killed was consecrated as a church by Pope Gaius. Soon Susanna's father, the presbyter Gabinius, received a martyr's death, and in 296 the holy hierarch Gaius also.

Saint Cufius is commemorated on 24 August, in the new style. Their passion is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.