John of Rome

Holy Martyr John of Rome is commemorated among the clergy of Holy Hieromartyr Stephen, pope of Rome, who suffered in the year 257 in the time of the emperor Valerian. Saint Stephen, on the throne of first hierarch of Rome (253 to 257), fought zealously against the error of Novatus, who taught that those returning from heresy should not be received. Hiding in the time of persecution, he baptized many pagans, among them the military tribune Nemesius, converted to Christ after the saint healed his daughter, Lucilla. Nemesius, ordained deacon, and his daughter were beheaded. Their steward, Symphronius, brought by the tribune Olympius to the temple of Mars for torture, melted the golden idol by prayer, after which the tribune, with his wife Exuperia and his son Theodulus, believed and were baptized. All were burned. Their remains were buried by Holy Pope Stephen.

Then his twelve clergy were also beheaded: Bonus, Faustus, Maurus, Primitivus, Calumniosus, John, Exuperantius, Cyril, Theodore, Basil, Castellus, Honoratus and Tertullinus, converted by Saint Stephen. In the end Saint Stephen himself was brought before the emperor Valerian, who condemned him to be beheaded in the temple of Mars. But at the saint's prayer the greater part of the temple collapsed, and the soldiers fled. The saint hid in the catacombs (the cemetery of Saint Lucina), where he was killed by the soldiers who came, as he was teaching the Christians.

The Church commemorates these martyrs on 15 August, in the new style.