Processus of Rome

Holy Martyr Processus of Rome, together with St Martinian, was a guard of the Mamertine prison in Rome, until he believed in Christ through the Holy Apostle Peter.

The two were pagans. In the Mamertine were held prisoners of the state, among them Christians; listening to the sermons of the prisoners, Processus and Martinian gradually came to know the faith in the Saviour. When the Holy Apostle Peter was imprisoned there, they believed firmly in Christ, received Holy Baptism from the apostle and let him go out of the prison. Learning of it, the prison commander, Paulinus, demanded that they renounce Christ, but they confessed their faith without fear and spat on the golden statue of Jupiter. Paulinus ordered them struck on the mouth, then, seeing their firmness, tormented: beaten with iron rods, burned with fire and finally thrown into prison.

A noble and devout woman named Lucina reached them and comforted and encouraged them. Paulinus soon received God's punishment: he went blind and died after three days. His son demanded of the governor of the city that the saints be put to death at once, and Processus and Martinian were put to the sword, around the year 67. The devout Lucina buried their bodies.

St Processus is commemorated on 24 April, in the new style.