Lucillian of Byzantium

Holy Martyr Lucillian of Byzantium was a pagan priest in the time of the emperor Aurelian (270-275). In old age he became convinced that the pagan religion was false, turned with his whole soul to Christ the Saviour and was baptized.

Through his preaching many pagans came to Christianity. Then the Jews denounced him, for spreading faith in the Christ whom they had crucified, to Silvanus, the governor of Nicomedia. He tried to turn the old man back to the service of idols. For refusing, his jaws were crushed, he was beaten with rods and hung head downward, and then shut in prison. There he met four young confessors of Christ, Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius, whom he urged to stand firm in the faith and not to fear torments or death.

After a time all were brought to trial and thrown into a heated furnace, but a sudden rain put out the flames, and the martyrs remained unharmed. The governor condemned them to death and sent them to Byzantium for the sentence to be carried out. The youths were beheaded with the sword, and Lucillian was nailed to a cross with many nails.

A witness of the martyrs' struggle was the holy virgin Paula, who had devoted herself to serving those who suffered for Christ. She brought food to the Christians in prison, washed their wounds, brought medicines and buried the martyrs' bodies. After the death of Lucillian and the four youths she returned to Nicomedia and continued her holy service. She was seized and thrown into a furnace, but by the power of God remained unharmed. She was then sent to Byzantium, where the holy martyr was beheaded with the sword.

They are commemorated on 16 June, in the new style.