Faustus of Pozzuoli

Holy Martyr Faustus of Pozzuoli, a deacon, is commemorated in the company of the Holy Hieromartyr Januarius, bishop, and the Holy Martyrs Proculus, Sossius, the deacons, Desiderius the reader, Eutychius and Acutio, who died as martyrs for Christ around 305, in the persecution of Diocletian (284 to 305).

Bishop Januarius was brought to trial before Timothy, governor of Campania, and for his confession of faith was thrown into a burning furnace, from which he came out unharmed, like the youths of Babylon. Then, at Timothy's command, he was stretched on a rack and beaten with iron rods until his bones were exposed. In the crowd were the deacon Faustus and the reader Desiderius, who wept at the sight of their bishop's suffering. The pagans understood that they were Christians and shut them in the prison of Pozzuoli with Januarius. There were already two deacons, Sossius and Proculus, and two laymen, Eutychius and Acutio, imprisoned for confessing Christ.

The next morning the martyrs were brought out into the circus to be given to the beasts, but the beasts did not touch them. Timothy said that all the miracles were sorcery, but he went blind at once and cried out for help. Januarius prayed for him, and Timothy saw again. The blindness of his soul did not leave him, and he ordered the heads of all cut off outside the city. The Christians of the surrounding cities took the bodies for burial, one city each, so as to have an intercessor before God. The people of Naples took the body of Januarius, with his clotted blood, which dissolved and became hot when it was placed beside the relics. Faustus is commemorated on 4 May (new style).