Seven Holy Brothers

The Seven Holy Brothers were seven martyrs of Rome in the second century who suffered in the time of the emperor Antoninus Pius, around 150. Their names are Januarius, Felix, Philip, Sylvanus, Alexander, Vitalis and Martial. The Roman Martyrology calls the brothers sons of the holy martyr Felicity, who suffered under Antoninus before Publius, prefect of the city; another list says that they became brothers through sharing martyrdom. Januarius, after being scourged with rods and held in prison, died under blows from leaded whips; Felix and Philip were scourged to death, Sylvanus was thrown headlong from a height, and Alexander, Vitalis and Martial were condemned to capital punishment.

They are commemorated on 10 July (in the East on 25 January), as saints of the West before the Great Schism (saints of the undivided Church), by the New Calendar.