Venerius of Rome

Holy Martyr Venerius of Rome is counted among the martyrs of Rome in the third century, commemorated together with Bishop Hippolytus, with Censorinus, Sabinus, the virgin Chrysia and many others.

Censorinus had been the first dignitary in the time of Emperor Claudius II (268-270). On the strength of a denunciation he was put in prison for faith in Christ. In prison he raised a dead man in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and twenty soldiers, the prison guards, came to believe and were beheaded together with him. The virgin Chrysia was brought to trial, boldly confessed herself a Christian and, after cruel torments, was drowned in the sea. Sabinus was beaten with a heavy hammer, then hung from a tree and burned with fire, and gave up his soul in his torments.

With Chrysia there suffered Philicles, Maximus, Herculinus, Venerius, Styracinus, Mina, Commodus, Hermes, Maurus, Eusebius, Rusticus, Monagreus, Amandinus, Olympius, Cyprus, Theodore, Tribunus, the priest Maximus, the deacon Archelaus and Bishop Quirinus. Saint Hippolytus, bishop of Ostia, the port of Rome at the mouth of the Tiber, learning of the sufferings, came to the court though he was old and rebuked the persecutor, calling him bloodthirsty. The furious judge handed him over to torture and, after much mistreatment, had him bound hand and foot and thrown into the sea.

The synaxarion commemorates them all on 12 February, in the new style.