The Holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian
Commemorated on April 11
The Holy Martyrs
Processus and Martinian were pagans and they served as guards at the
Mamertine prison in Rome.
In this prison were
held state criminals, among which Christians also were included. Watching over
the Christian prisoners and hearing also their preaching, Processus and
Martinian gradually came to the knowledge of the true faith in the Saviour.
When the holy Apostle Peter was locked up at the Mamertine prison, Processus
and Martinian came steadfastly to believe in Christ; they accepted holy Baptism
from the apostle and released him from prison. The prison head Paulinus learned
about this, and he demanded Saints Processus and Martinian to renounce Christ.
But they fearlessly confessed their Christian faith and they spat at the golden
statue of Jupiter. Paulinus thereupon gave orders to slap them on the face, and
then seeing the resolute stance of the holy martyrs, he subjected them to
torture: they whipped the martyrs with iron rods, scorched them with fire, and
finally, threw them in prison.
A certain illustrious
and pious woman, by the name of Lucina (Lucy), visited them in prison and gave
them help and encouragement. The torturer Paulinus soon suffered the
chastisement of God: he fell blind and died three days later. The son of
Paulinus made recourse to the city head with a demand to immediately put the
martyrs to death. Saints Processus and Martinian were beheaded by the sword (+
c. 67).
Pious Lucina buried
the bodies of the martyrs.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.