Tranquillinus of Rome

Holy Hieromartyr Tranquillinus of Rome, a priest, is remembered in the history of the Holy Martyr Sebastian of Milan and his company, under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305). Sebastian, born in Narbonne in Gaul, educated in Milan and captain of the palace guard, was a secret Christian and helped his brethren in the faith. Two Christian brothers, Marcellinus and Mark, who were in prison, began to waver at the tears of their pagan parents, Tranquillinus and Marcia, and of their wives and children. Sebastian strengthened them with a fervent sermon to go to martyrdom.

His words moved everyone present: the saint's face shone like that of an angel. Zoe, the wife of the imperial treasurer Nicostratus, who had been mute for six years, fell at his feet, and the saint signed her with the cross and she began to speak, confessing Christ. All believed. The priest Polycarp prepared those in the prison for baptism, and in the evening he baptized Tranquillinus, his family and friends, Nicostratus and his family, Claudius and his sons, and sixteen condemned prisoners, sixty-⁠four people in all. The prefect Chromatius also believed, with his son Tiburtius and his whole household, and the number of the enlightened rose to fourteen hundred. Pope Gaius blessed the departure of Chromatius and Polycarp to southern Italy. Tranquillinus remained in Rome, ordained a priest by Saint Gaius, together with the deacons Marcellinus and Mark, Nicostratus, Zoe and others.

Soon the time of suffering came. First Zoe was seized, praying at the tomb of the Apostle Peter, and after her the priest Tranquillinus. The pagans killed him with stones at the tomb of the holy Apostle Peter and threw his body into the Tiber. The others suffered after him, among them Nicostratus and his companions, Tiburtius, Marcellinus, Mark and Castulus. Sebastian was the last, shot with arrows and then killed in the hippodrome on the order of Diocletian.

Saint Tranquillinus is commemorated on 31 December, in the new style.