Protus of Rome

Holy Martyr Protus of Rome was the slave of the Holy Venerable Martyr Eugenia of Rome and died a martyr, put to the sword, together with Hyacinth, in the time of the emperor Gallienus (260-268).

Eugenia, a Roman by birth, lived in Alexandria, where her father, Philip, had been sent by the emperor Commodus (180-192) as governor of Egypt. She received an excellent education, was of good character and beauty, and many young men of noble family sought her in marriage, but she did not wish to marry. Reading the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, she turned with her whole soul to Christianity and, secretly from her parents, accompanied by her two slaves, Protus and Hyacinth, left dressed in men's clothes for a men's monastery. There she received Holy Baptism from Bishop Elias, to whom it had been revealed about her in a vision, and he blessed her to struggle in the monastery in the guise of the monk Eugenius. Through her labours she received the gift of healing. A rich young widow, Melania, conceived an unclean desire for the young monk and, rejected, invented the slander of an attempt at violence. St Eugenia was brought to the judgment of the governor of Egypt, that is, her father, and was forced to reveal her secret; her relatives rejoiced to find the one they had long mourned. Soon all were baptized. Philip was dismissed from office on the denunciation of the pagans, and the Christians of Alexandria chose him as their bishop; the new governor, fearing the anger of the people, sent assassins, and the bishop, wounded during a prayer, died a martyr after three days. Now a widow, Claudia left with her daughter and servants for her estate near Rome. There Eugenia continued the monastic life and brought many virgins to Christ, while Claudia built a house for strangers and served widows.

After some quiet years Gallienus began the persecution again, and many Christians found shelter with the holy Claudia and Eugenia. Then a young Roman woman of imperial family, left an orphan, Basilla, learned of the Christians and of Eugenia and wrote to her. In reply Eugenia sent her friends and companions, Protus and Hyacinth, who enlightened Basilla, and she received Baptism. Her maidservant told her betrothed, Pompeius, that she had become a Christian, and Pompeius complained to the emperor. Basilla refused to marry Pompeius and was pierced with the sword. The holy Protus and Hyacinth were dragged to sacrifice in the temple of the idols, but as soon as they entered, the idol fell and shattered; they were put to the sword. St Eugenia was also brought by force to the temple of Diana, but before she entered, the whole shrine collapsed, idol and all. She was thrown into the Tiber with a stone round her neck, but the stone fell off and she remained untouched; she remained unharmed in fire too. Then she was thrown into a pit, where she stayed ten days. Then the Saviour appeared to her and told her that she would enter the Kingdom of Heaven on the day of the Nativity. When the feast arrived, in the year 262, the executioner killed her with the sword. Soon Claudia, whom Eugenia had warned of the day of her death, also received the martyr's crown.

St Protus is commemorated on 6 January, in the new style.