Hilaria of Rome

Holy Martyr Hilaria of Rome was the wife of the tribune Claudius and the mother of the holy martyrs Jason and Maurus. She suffered in the time of Emperor Numerian (283-284), in the company of the martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria.

Chrysanthus, from a pagan family, received a good education. Among the books he read he came upon some in which the pagans spoke of Christianity. The youth wished to read the books written by Christians themselves and found the books of the New Testament. Holy Scripture enlightened the soul of the discerning youth. He found the priest Carpophorus, who was hiding from persecution, and received Holy Baptism from him, then began to preach the Gospel openly. His father tried every way to turn him from Christianity and married him to the beautiful Daria, a priestess of Athena Pallas. But Saint Chrysanthus succeeded in bringing his wife to Christ, and the young spouses resolved by mutual consent to lead a virgin life. After the father's death they began to live in separate houses. Saint Chrysanthus gathered round him a few youths brought to Christ, and round Saint Daria devout women gathered.

The townspeople complained to the eparch Celerinus that Chrysanthus and Daria preached celibacy. Saint Chrysanthus was given over to torments by the tribune Claudius. But the torments did not shake the young martyr's courage, for the power of God visibly helped him. Amazed, the tribune Claudius believed in Christ and received Holy Baptism with his wife Hilaria, his sons Jason and Maurus and all his household and soldiers. When the news reached Emperor Numerian (283-284), he ordered them put to death. The martyr tribune Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers were beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a cave nearby, and Saint Hilaria began to go there constantly to pray. Once she was followed and brought to torments. The saint asked for a few moments for prayer, at the end of which she died. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her sons.

Saint Daria the tormentors gave over to a brothel. But there a lion sent by God guarded her. All who tried to defile her the lion threw to the ground, but left alive. The martyr preached Christ to them and turned them to the path of salvation. Saint Chrysanthus was thrown into a stinking pit into which all the city's filth drained. But to him the heavenly Light shone, and instead of stench the pit was filled with fragrance. Then Emperor Numerian ordered Chrysanthus and Daria handed over to the executioners. After tortures, the martyrs were buried alive in the earth.

In the cave near the place of execution Christians began to gather, keeping the day of the martyrs' end. They served there and partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of it, the pagan authorities ordered the entrance of the cave, full of worshippers, to be blocked. So many Christians perished in torment, of whom two are known by name: the martyrs the priest Diodorus and the deacon Marianus.

The saints are commemorated on 1 April (new style).