Primitivus

Holy Martyr Primitivus was one of the clerics of the Holy Hieromartyr Stephen, pope of Rome, and was put to the sword in the persecution of the emperor Valerian, in 257.

Pope Stephen held the see of Rome between 253 and 257 and fought zealously against the heresy of Novatus, who taught that those coming from heresy should not be received. Hidden in the time of persecution, he baptized many pagans, among them the military tribune Nemesius, who believed after the pope healed his daughter Lucilla. Nemesius, ordained deacon, and his daughter were put to the sword. Their steward, Symphronius, brought by the tribune Olympius to the temple of Mars for torment, melted the golden idol by prayer, and the tribune, with his wife Exuperia and son Theodulus, believed and was baptized; all were burned, and their remains were buried by St Stephen.

Then his twelve clerics were beheaded, among them Primitivus: Bonus, Faustus, Maurus, Primitivus, Calumniosus, John, Exuperantius, Cyril, Theodore, Basil, Castellus, Honoratus and Tertullinus, baptized by St Stephen. At last the pope himself was taken to the emperor Valerian, who condemned him to be put to the sword in the temple of Mars. Through the saint's prayer the greater part of the temple collapsed, and the soldiers fled. The hierarch hid in the catacombs (in the cemetery of St Lucina), where he was killed by the soldiers who came, while he was teaching the Christians.

Primitivus is not mentioned in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is commemorated on 15 August, in the new style.