Tiburtius of Rome

Holy Martyr Tiburtius of Rome was the brother of the Holy Martyr Valerian, the husband of Saint Cecilia, and suffered together with him. Cecilia, of a rich and noble Roman family, had received the faith from her youth, prayed zealously, helped the needy and wore a rough hair shirt beneath costly clothes. Her parents resolved to give her in marriage to the pagan Valerian. She did not dare oppose them, but prayed with tears that her bridegroom would believe in Christ and that she might keep her virginity. Cecilia persuaded Valerian to go to Bishop Urban, who was hiding from the persecution in a cave by the Appian Way. The old man's teaching entered Valerian's soul, and he believed in Christ and brought his brother Tiburtius to the faith as well. The brothers gave part of their property to the poor, cared for the sick and buried Christians tortured by the persecutors.

The governor Almachius, learning of this, ordered them seized and brought to trial. He demanded that they renounce Christ and sacrifice to the pagan gods, and the brothers refused. They were then beaten mercilessly with whips, and Valerian, under torture, urged the Christians not to fear suffering but to stand firm for Christ. Wishing to rid the people of the influence of the preacher, the governor ordered them to be taken out of the city and killed there. The soldiers who escorted them were commanded by Maximus, who was struck by their courage and asked why they did not fear death. The brothers answered that they were leaving a passing life for the eternal one. Maximus wished to learn Christian teaching in detail, brought Valerian and Tiburtius to his house and listened to their words all night. When Cecilia learned of this she came to Maximus with a priest, and he was baptized with his whole family.

The next day Valerian and Tiburtius were beheaded, and Maximus confessed before all that he had seen their souls rising to heaven. For this he was beaten with whips to death. The governor wished to seize the property of those executed, but learned that Cecilia had given everything that remained to the poor and that by her preaching she had brought four hundred people to Christianity, and so he ordered her death too. For three days she was tormented by heat and smoke in an overheated bath, but the grace of God protected her. Then it was decided to behead her. The executioner struck her with the sword but only wounded her. The saint suffered three more days, fully conscious, strengthening those around her in the faith, and reposed with a prayer on her lips.

Saint Tiburtius is commemorated on 5 December, in the new style.