Modestinus, Florentinus and Flavianus

Holy Martyrs Modestinus, Florentinus and Flavianus were three martyrs of Campania in Italy, put to death in the year 311, according to tradition at Mercogliano. Their commemoration is on 14 February. Their veneration is attested in Catholic sources, and our sources mention no particular Orthodox veneration. A Catholic scholar, Holweck, considers the Acts of Modestinus untrustworthy.

According to a medieval passio, Modestinus was born at Antioch about the year 245 and was made bishop in 302. He suffered in the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. He was seized, but escaped from prison by the providence of God and, together with the priest Florentinus and the deacon Flavianus, set out for Locri in Calabria. There he was seized again by order of the governor, but escaped again in a wonderful manner and healed the governor's daughter of a grave illness, thus bringing the governor to the Lord. One source says that the three had been seized at Antioch and escaped from prison in the same way.

From there they went to Pozzuoli, accompanied, according to the story, by the archangel Michael, and laboured much to preach the Gospel, and Modestinus worked many miracles. From Pozzuoli they went to Abellinum (present-⁠day Avellino), where Modestinus brought many people to the faith. Later, in a fresh persecution, they were seized and put to death. Modestinus was killed on 14 February, and his companions Florentinus and Flavianus the next day, 15 February. English sources sometimes reverse the ranks and call Florentinus the deacon and Flavianus the priest. Like others, they are said to have taken refuge on Monte Vergine.

The saints are honoured as patrons of the towns of Mercogliano and Locri and of the dioceses of Avellino and Locri-⁠Gerace in Calabria. The cathedral of Avellino is dedicated to Saint Modestinus. Their relics were found again in 1167 by Guglielmo, bishop of Avellino. A relic of Modestinus is kept at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia, in the United States.