Symphronius

Holy Martyr Symphronius was steward of the tribune Nemesius and was burned for the faith in the year 257, in the time of Emperor Valerian. Saint Pope Stephen buried his remains.

In the time of persecution Saint Stephen, pope of Rome (253-257), in hiding, baptized many pagans, among them the military tribune Nemesius, who turned to Christ when the saint healed his daughter, Lucilla. Nemesius, ordained a deacon, and his daughter were put to the sword. Their steward, Symphronius, brought by the tribune Olympius into the temple of Mars for torment, melted by prayer a golden idol, after which the tribune, with his wife Exuperia and his son Theodulus, believed and were baptized. All were burned, and their remains were buried by Saint Stephen.

Then the pope's twelve clerics were beheaded, and last of all the pope himself was brought to Emperor Valerian, who sentenced him to be put to the sword in the temple of Mars; by the prayers of the saint a large part of the temple collapsed, and the soldiers fled. The saint hid in the catacombs, where he was killed by soldiers while he was teaching the Christians.

Symphronius is commemorated on 15 August, in the new style; he is not mentioned in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.