Prepedigna of Rome

Holy Martyr Prepedigna of Rome was the wife of the official Claudius, a relative of the emperor Diocletian, and died a martyr by fire at Ostia, near Rome, in the persecution of Diocletian (284-305). She is commemorated in the group of the Holy Martyr Susanna.

The virgin Susanna was the daughter of the priest Gabinius and the niece of the holy Pope of Rome Gaius (283-296). She had been raised in strict piety and from childhood had devoted herself to God. Her family was related to Diocletian, who had heard of her virtue and beauty and wished to give her as wife to his co-⁠emperor, Maximian Herculius. He sent to the priest Gabinius his relatives, the official Claudius and then his brother Maximus. Both, with Claudius's wife Prepedigna and their sons Alexander and Cuphius, after conversations with the pious family, received Baptism. Learning that a whole family of the emperor's relatives had become Christians, Diocletian sent them into exile. Soon the martyrs were burned at Ostia, and their ashes were cast into the sea.

The virgin Susanna was taken to the palace and the empress was charged to persuade her to submit, but the empress, a secret Christian, supported her in keeping her virginity for the Lord. Susanna was martyred by beheading under Macedonius, after refusing to sacrifice to the idols, saying that she offered herself as a sacrifice to her Lord. The empress buried her body in secret, and the room of the killing was consecrated as a church by the holy Pope Gaius. Soon the father of Susanna, the priest Gabinius, also suffered, and in 296 St Gaius.

St Prepedigna is commemorated on 24 August, in the new style.