Daria of Rome

Holy Martyr Daria of Rome was the wife of the Holy Martyr Chrysanthus and suffered together with him in the time of Emperor Numerian (283-284). In the company are also remembered the martyrs Claudius, Hilaria, Jason and Maurus, the priest Diodorus and the deacon Marianus. They are commemorated on 1 April.

Chrysanthus

Chrysanthus came from a pagan family and had received a good education. Among the books he read were some in which pagans discussed Christianity. But the young man wished to read the books written by Christians themselves, and he came upon the books of the New Testament. Holy Scripture enlightened his soul. He sought out the priest Carpophorus, hiding because of the persecution, and received Holy Baptism from him. After that he began to preach the Gospel openly. His father tried in every way to turn him from Christianity and married him to the beautiful Daria, a priestess of Athena Pallas. But Chrysanthus succeeded in bringing his wife to Christ, and the young couple resolved by mutual consent to live in virginity. After the father's death they lived in separate houses. Chrysanthus gathered around him young men brought to Christ, and around Saint Daria devout women gathered.

The suffering

The townspeople complained to the eparch Celerinus that Chrysanthus and Daria preached celibacy. Chrysanthus was given to the tribune Claudius for torture. The tortures could not shake the courage of the young martyr, for the power of God plainly helped him. Amazed, the tribune Claudius believed in Christ and received Holy Baptism, together with his wife Hilaria, his sons Jason and Maurus and all his household and soldiers. When the news reached Emperor Numerian, he ordered all of them put to death. The martyr Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and the soldiers were beheaded. The Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a cave nearby, and Saint Hilaria came there constantly to pray. Once she was followed and brought to torment. The saint asked for a few moments for prayer and, finishing it, reposed. A maidservant buried her in the cave, beside her sons.

Saint Daria the torturers gave over to a house of ill repute. But there she was guarded by a lion sent by God. All who tried to defile her the lion threw to the ground, but left alive. The martyr preached Christ to them and brought them to the way of salvation. Saint Chrysanthus they threw into a stinking pit, into which all the filth of the city drained. But the heavenly Light shone upon him, and instead of stench the pit was filled with sweet fragrance. Then Emperor Numerian ordered Chrysanthus and Daria given into the hands of the executioners. After tortures the martyrs were buried alive in the earth.

In the cave near the place of execution Christians began to gather, celebrating the day of the martyrs' death. They held services and communed of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of it, the pagan authorities ordered the entrance of the cave stopped up, full of those at prayer. So many Christians perished in torment, of whom two are known by name: the martyrs, the priest Diodorus and the deacon Marianus.