Romanus Ostiarius

Saint Romanus Ostiarius, Martyr, was, according to legend, a Roman soldier converted by the example of Saint Lawrence the Archdeacon, then doorkeeper of the church at Rome, who suffered in the year 258. He is remembered on 9 August.

According to the old Passions, Romanus was a legionary and came to the faith at the time when he was helping Saint Lawrence in his martyrdom. While the holy deacon was being tortured, Romanus had a vision of an angel, who strengthened him, and resolved to ask for Baptism. The emperor Decius, furious at Lawrence's steadfastness, wished to end his torments. Romanus, trying to act secretly, approached the deacon with a jug of water, and Lawrence baptized him at once. Romanus was seized on the spot and beaten cruelly. Then, after he publicly declared that he was a Christian, he was taken to the Salt Gate and beheaded, on 9 August 258, in the persecution of Valerian I. According to the Liber Pontificalis he is honoured as an ostiary, that is, a doorkeeper. His relics are in Rome, Lucca, Ferrara and Avella. He is patron of Monaco.