Philadelphus of Bastia

Holy Martyr Philadelphus of Bastia is remembered together with the martyrs Alphius, Cyprian, Onesimus, Erasmus and fourteen others, who suffered in the third century and came from Italy.

Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian were sons of Vitellius, the governor of Italy. They were enlightened by faith in Christ and baptized by Saint Onesimus. At that time the emperor Licinius ordered that Christians be sought out and tortured. The brothers were sent to Rome together with Onesimus, Erasmus and fourteen other Christians. In Rome the chest of Saint Onesimus was crushed with a heavy stone, from which he died, and Erasmus and the fourteen were beheaded. The brothers Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian suffered in Sicily, in the city of Mesopolis of Leontini, to which they were sent from Rome, in the year 251, under the emperor Decius. Saint Alphius's tongue was cut out and he bled to death, Philadelphus was burned on an iron grate, and Cyprian was burned on a frying pan. In the year 1517 their relics were found at Leontini.

The saints are commemorated on 23 May.