Holy Martyrs Codratus of Nicomedia, Saturninus, Rufinus and Others (III)

The holy Martyrs Codratus of Nicomedia, Saturninus, Rufinus and others (III) met their end in the time of the Emperor Decius (249–251) and of his successor Valerian.

Saint Codratus came from a distinguished family. He spent all his property on Christians persecuted and taken captive for their faith.

When Perennius, the proconsul and an official of the lawless Decius, came to Nicomedia, Saint Codratus publicly confessed his faith to encourage the others and stood before the persecutor. At first Perennius tried to win Codratus over with rewards and honours, but when he understood the futility of his plan he ordered the saint to be thrown into prison, laid on nails, and a heavy stone placed on his chest.

On his way to Nicaea the proconsul took all the Christians with him, Saint Codratus among them. As soon as they reached the city, at the saint’s request, the Christians were brought to a pagan temple. As soon as his fetters were loosed, Saint Codratus smashed the pagan idols. By the proconsul’s order the saint was tortured. Yet he stayed of good courage and strengthened the other martyrs too by his firmness.

During the torture a bright cloud stood over the martyrs, while the pagans found themselves in darkness. In the deathly silence the singing of angels rang out. Many pagans who saw this miracle confessed Christ on the spot. By Perennius’s order they too were thrown into prison.

Saint Codratus was put into a sack full of poisonous snakes and thrown into a ravine. The next morning, to everyone’s amazement, the martyr was found safe and sound. The saint, miraculously preserved, was cruelly beaten. Two noble citizens, Saturninus and Rufinus, were moved with pity for Codratus. Perennius noticed this and ordered them to be beheaded.

Perennius kept devising new torments for the saint, but could not break his spirit. At last, by the proconsul’s order, Saint Codratus was beheaded.