Stirachin of Rome

Holy Martyr Stirachin of Rome was one of the twenty martyrs who suffered in the third century with Chrysia the virgin, around Bishop Hippolytus of Ostia, Censorinus and Sabinus.

Censorinus had been the first dignitary under Emperor Claudius II (268-270). Denounced, he was thrown into prison for faith in Christ. There, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, he raised a dead man, and twenty soldiers, guards of the prison, believed in Christ and were beheaded with him. At that time the maiden Chrysia was brought for questioning, who manfully confessed herself a Christian and was tormented; after cruel torments she was drowned in the sea. Sabinus was struck with a heavy hammer, then hung from a tree and his body burned with fire; in torments he gave up his soul to the Lord. With Chrysia suffered Philicles, Maximus, Herculinus, Venerius, Stirachin, Menas, Commodus, Hermes, Maurus, Eusebius, Rusticus, Monagreus, Amandinus, Olympius, Cyprian, Theodore, Tribunus, Maximus the priest, Archelaus the deacon and Cyrinus the bishop. Saint Hippolytus, bishop of Ostia, the port of Rome at the mouth of the Tiber, learning of the suffering of the martyrs, though old, appeared at the trial and rebuked the tormentor for inhumanity, calling him a bloodsucker. The enraged judge gave him to torments; after long tortures he was bound hand and foot and thrown into the sea.

Stirachin is commemorated on 12 February, in the new style.