Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria, and with Them the Martyrs Claudius, His Wife Hilaria and Their Sons Jason and Maurus, Diodorus the Presbyter and Marianus the Deacon (+283)
The holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria, and with them the martyrs Claudius, his wife Hilaria and their sons Jason and Maurus, Diodorus the presbyter and Marianus the deacon. Saint Chrysanthus came from a pagan family. He received a good education, and first learned of Christ from pagan authors hostile to Christianity. The young Chrysanthus conceived the desire to read the writings of the Christians for himself. Holy Scripture enlightened the soul of the intelligent young man. He sought out the presbyter Carpophorus, who was in hiding because of the persecution, and was baptised. After this Chrysanthus began openly to preach Christianity. His father tried in every way to turn his son back to paganism, and married him to Daria, a priestess of Athena Pallas, but the saint converted his wife too to the law of Christ. The young couple decided to live in virginity. After the father’s death they settled in separate houses, gathered the newly converted Christians around them, and instructed them.
Their fellow citizens complained to the eparch Celerinus that Saints Chrysanthus and Daria were preaching celibacy. Saint Chrysanthus was handed over to the tribune Claudius to be tortured.
Torment could not bend the young martyr’s firmness. Amazed at his endurance, the tribune Claudius was baptised with his wife, his children and his whole household. When the Emperor Numerian (283–284) learned of this, he ordered the new converts to be put to death. The martyr Claudius the tribune was drowned in the sea, while his sons and soldiers were beheaded. The Christians buried the martyrs’ bodies in a cave. Claudius’s wife, Saint Hilaria, constantly went to the tomb and prayed. Her conduct did not go unnoticed by the pagans, and she too was put to death. A servant buried Saint Hilaria beside her sons.
The pagans put Saint Daria into a brothel, but a lion sent by God appeared to protect her and let no one come near the saint. Saint Daria preached the law of Christ and set those around her on the path of truth.
Saint Chrysanthus was thrown into a pit into which the filth of the whole city drained. A heavenly light stood over him, and the stinking pit was filled with fragrance.
The Emperor Numerian ordered Saints Chrysanthus and Daria to be cruelly tortured. After long torments the martyrs were buried alive.
After the martyrdom of the saints the Christians gathered in a cave nearby, celebrated the divine services, and received the holy Body and Blood of Christ. When the pagans learned of this, they walled up the entrance of the cave, full of worshippers. Many Christians met their end in this martyrdom. The names of two of them are known: Diodorus the presbyter and Marianus the deacon.
