Paul

Holy Martyr Paul of Jamnia was one of the twelve martyrs of Caesarea in Palestine at the time of the persecution of Diocletian. He was known as fervent in faith and burning with zeal for the true faith. He is commemorated on 16 February.

He came from the city of Jamnia, where earlier martyrs had suffered for Christ by fire. With the presbyter Pamphilus of Beirut and the deacon Valens he endured various torments from the governor Urban and spent two years in prison, until the governorship passed to Firmilian. On 16 February he was brought before Firmilian with five young Egyptians, Elias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel and Daniel. After the Egyptians had been condemned to the sword, the governor learned that Pamphilus, Valens and Paul had been tortured enough before, wished only to ask whether they would obey the imperial command and, finding them unyielding, condemned them also to the sword. Paul bowed his neck and with the others received the crown of martyrdom.

Their passion was followed by that of Porphyrius, the young servant of Pamphilus, burned alive, then by that of the soldier Seleucus, the old Theodulus and Julian of Cappadocia, who completed the company of the twelve.