Erasmus of Rome

Holy Martyr Erasmus of Rome was one of the fifteen martyrs, with Onesimus, who suffered at Rome in the third century. They were from Italy and are commemorated together with the brothers Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian, sons of the ruler of Italy, Vitellius.

Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian had been enlightened with faith in Christ and baptized by Saint Onesimus. At that time the Emperor Licinius ordered Christians to be sought out and tortured. The brothers were sent to Rome together with Onesimus, Erasmus and fourteen other Christians. In Rome Onesimus' chest was crushed with a heavy stone and he died, and Erasmus and the fourteen martyrs were beheaded.

The brothers Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian were sent from Rome to Sicily, to the city of Mesopolis of Leontini, where they suffered in the year 251, in the time of the Emperor Decius: Alphius' tongue was cut out and he died bleeding, Philadelphus was burned on an iron grid and Cyprian on a pan. In 1517 their relics were found at Leontini.

The Synaxarion commemorates them all on 23 May (new style).