Martyrs Processus and Martinian (I)

The holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian (I) were pagans and served in Rome, in the Mamertine prison.

Processus and Martinian watched the conduct of the Christian prisoners, listened to their preaching, and gradually came to know the true faith. When the holy Apostle Peter was imprisoned in the Mamertine prison, Processus and Martinian finally believed in Christ, were baptised by the apostle, and set him free from the prison. Paulinus, the head of the prison, learned of this and demanded that the newly baptised deny Christ. But they fearlessly confessed the Christian faith. By Paulinus’s order the saints were cruelly beaten and then thrown into prison.

Soon God’s punishment overtook Paulinus: he suddenly went blind and died on the third day. Paulinus’s son demanded that the head of the city put the martyrs to death. Saints Processus and Martinian were beheaded (+c. 67).