Paul

Holy Martyr Paul died at Caesarea in Palestine, beheaded with a sword, together with the virgins Ennatha and Valentina, who were burned alive, in the persecution of Diocletian, before the governor Firmilian.

Ennatha was from the region of Gaza and Valentina from Caesarea. When the governor Firmilian sat in judgment, Ennatha was brought in, and, asked whether she would deny Christ, confessed that Christ is God and was cruelly tortured, bound to a beam. Valentina, unable to bear the sight of such cruelty, was filled with courage, and when she was ordered to sacrifice to the idols she kicked the altar standing beside the judgment seat and overturned it with the fire on it. She too was cruelly tortured. Then the two were condemned to be burned.

At that moment the young man Paul stepped forward and boldly condemned the deed of Firmilian. After suffering various torments and showing himself above pain, by the grace of Christ, he was sentenced to death by the sword. Giving thanks to God and praying for those of his faith, he received the cutting off of his head. The three martyrs are commemorated on 10 February, according to the new calendar.