Largius of Rome

Holy Martyr Largius of Rome was one of the martyrs who suffered at Rome in the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian (284-305) and of their successors Galerius (305-311) and Maxentius (305-312), together with the holy hieromartyr Marcellus, pope of Rome. The Azbyka page honours them all together: Pope Marcellus, the deacons Sisinnius and Cyriacus, the soldiers Smaragdus, Largius, Apronian, Saturninus, Papias and Maurus, Crescentian, and the women martyrs Priscilla, Lucina and Artemia.

Maximian stripped Christians of military rank and sent them to forced labour. A rich Christian, Thrason, sent food and clothing to the prisoners through Sisinnius, Cyriacus, Smaragdus and Largius. Pope Marcellus thanked him and ordained Sisinnius and Cyriacus deacons, who were soon seized for helping the prisoners and sent to labour. They worked also in place of the old Saturninus, and for this Maximian gave Sisinnius over to torture by the governor Laodicius. The prison's chief, Apronian, believed in Christ on seeing Sisinnius's face shine with light, was baptized and received chrismation from Pope Marcellus. On 7 June Apronian, Sisinnius and Saturninus stood before Laodicius; Apronian was beheaded, Sisinnius and Saturninus were put to death later, and the soldiers Papias and Maurus, amazed at the melting of the incense tripods at Saturninus's word, confessed Christ, received Baptism from Pope Marcellus and died under torture. Their bodies were buried by the presbyter John and Thrason.

Cyriacus, Smaragdus, Largius and the other Christian prisoners were worn out further by labour. The youngest daughter of Diocletian, Artemia, was tormented by an unclean spirit. The emperor summoned Cyriacus, who drove out the demon and baptized her, and as a reward freed Cyriacus, Smaragdus and Largius. Cyriacus was then sent to Persia and, returning to Rome, was seized by order of Galerius, who was angry with Diocletian over Artemia's turning to Christianity, and led naked and in chains behind the emperor's chariot. Pope Marcellus rebuked the emperor publicly and was beaten with rods and made a cattle-⁠keeper. Cyriacus, Smaragdus, Largius and one more prisoner, Crescentian, died of the tortures; Artemia and twenty-⁠one other prisoners were then put to death.

Pope Marcellus, secretly freed by the Roman clergy, dug up the bodies of Cyriacus, Smaragdus and Largius and buried them on the estate of two Christian women, Priscilla and Lucina, turning Lucina's house into a church. Maxentius ordered the church destroyed and made a cattle yard, and sentenced the pope to follow cattle all his life; worn out by hunger, cold and stench, Marcellus fell ill and died in 310. Priscilla and Lucina were driven out of Rome and their estates plundered.

Saint Largius is commemorated on 20 June, in the new style. Their passion is also found in the Lives of the Saints by Saint Dimitry of Rostov.