Herculinus of Rome

Holy Martyr Herculinus of Rome is remembered among the multitude who suffered for Christ in the third century, around Saint Hippolytus, Bishop of Ostia, and Saints Censorinus, Sabinus and the virgin Chrysia. The calendar names him only in the list of the martyrs who suffered together with Chrysia, so nothing more is known of him beyond his name and his place among the other confessors.

Censorinus was the foremost dignitary in the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270). Denounced for his faith, he was thrown into prison, and there, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, he raised a dead man. Twenty soldiers among the prison guards believed in Christ and were beheaded with him. The virgin Chrysia was brought to trial, confessed herself a Christian with courage, was subjected to fierce torments and was at last drowned in the sea. Saint Sabinus was beaten with a heavy hammer, then hung from a tree and burned with fire, and in his torments he gave his soul to the Lord.

With Chrysia there suffered Philicles, Maximus, Herculinus, Venerius, Styracinus, Mina, Commodus, Hermes, Maurus, Eusebius, Rusticus, Monagrius, Amandinus, Olympius, Cyprian, Theodore, Tribunus, Maximus the presbyter, Archelaus the deacon and Bishop Quirinus.

Saint Hippolytus, Bishop of Ostia, the port of Rome at the mouth of the Tiber, learned of the sufferings of the martyrs and, though aged, came to the court and rebuked the persecutor for his cruelty, calling him bloodthirsty. The enraged judge handed him over to torment; after many tortures his hands and feet were bound and he was thrown into the sea.

The martyrs are commemorated on 12 February (new style). Herculinus is not named in the present calendar of the Russian Church.