Onesimus of Rome

Holy Hieromartyr Onesimus of Rome was a priest and died crushed beneath a heavy stone, in Rome, because he had baptised three Christian brothers.

With him suffered the Holy Martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, Cyprian, Erasmus and fourteen others, who lived in the third century and were natives of Italy. Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian were sons of the governor of Italy, Vitellius; they were enlightened by faith in Christ and baptised by Saint Onesimus. Then the emperor Licinius ordered Christians to be sought out and given to torment. The brothers were sent to Rome together with Onesimus, with Erasmus and with fourteen other Christians. In Rome, Saint Onesimus's chest was crushed with a heavy stone and he died. Erasmus and the fourteen martyrs were beheaded. The brothers Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian suffered in Sicily, in the city of Mesopolis of Leontini, where they were sent from Rome; this took place in 251, under the emperor Decius. Alphius's tongue was cut out, and he bled to death; Philadelphus was burned on an iron grate, and Cyprian on a pan. In 1517 their relics were found at Leontini.

Their memory is kept on 23 May, in the new style.