Victorinus of Rome

Holy Martyr Victorinus of Rome was the brother of Claudius and one of the companions of the holy martyr Sebastian of Milan in the time of Diocletian and Maximian (284-305).

Sebastian, born at Narbonne and educated at Milan, was commander of the palace guard, loved by the soldiers, and a secret Christian. He strengthened the brothers Marcellinus and Marcus, who were in prison, not to yield to the entreaties of their pagan relatives, and many came to the faith, among them the official Nicostratus, his wife Zoe, Claudius, head of the prisons of Rome, the prefect Chromatius, and many others; they were baptized by the priest Polycarp, and the number of the enlightened rose to fourteen hundred. Those who stayed in Rome gathered in the palace, with the secret Christian Castulus, until the time of suffering came.

Zoe was seized first, in prayer at the tomb of Saint Peter. The priest Tranquillinus was stoned. Nicostratus, Castorius, Claudius, Victorinus and Symphorian were seized on the river bank when they were searching for the bodies of the martyrs, and refused to sacrifice to the idols. Stones were tied to their necks and they were drowned in the sea. Later Tiburtius, Marcellinus, Marcus and Castulus suffered, and last of all Sebastian, shot with arrows, then put to death by order of Diocletian.

Saint Victorinus is commemorated on 31 December, in the new style, together with Sebastian and the others.