Publius of Caesarea in Palestine

Holy Martyr Publius of Caesarea in Palestine was one of the young Christians who gave themselves up to the governor in the time of Diocletian (284-305) and were beheaded together with Agapius, Timolaus, Romilus, two Alexanders and two Dionysii.

At one of the pagan feasts in Caesarea of Palestine, Christians who refused to sacrifice to the idols were tormented and put to death in public. Then the martyr Timothy was condemned to burning, and the martyrs Agapius and Thecla were given to the beasts. In the crowd were the young Christians Publius, Timolaus, Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and the subdeacon of the church of Diospolis, Romilus, who resolved to confess their faith in public and suffer for Christ. As a sign of their willing deed they bound their hands and presented themselves to the governor Urban. Seeing their youth, he tried to persuade them to give up, but in vain. He threw them into prison, where there were already two Christians: Agapius, who had endured torments for faith in Christ, and his servant, Dionysius. All were subjected to cruel torments and beheaded.

St Publius is commemorated on 28 March, in the new style.