Martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia (303)
The holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia (+303) met their end for Christ in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (284–305). The holy Martyr Vitus was the son of a well-known Sicilian noble, the pagan Hylas. The Lord granted Vitus the gift of wonderworking. He healed the sick and converted many pagans to the law of Christ. At that time the emperor issued the decree on the persecution of Christians. Saint Vitus was summoned to trial. For his confession the saint was mercilessly beaten. Valerian’s hand suddenly went numb. Through the saint’s prayer the governor received healing; he stopped the trial, sent the son home with Hylas, and ordered him to turn him away from Christianity.
To make his son fall into sin of the flesh, Hylas surrounded him with luxury and brought him beautiful girls. The finest foods were brought to the saint, and feasts were held. But no stratagem produced the desired result. Saint Vitus prayed unceasingly and asked the Lord for help. Angels appeared to the saint and prayed with him. Once Hylas, going in to his son, saw the angels and was struck blind. Hylas vowed to renounce the idols, and through Saint Vitus’s prayer his eyes were opened; but after his healing he was filled with hatred for his son and decided to kill him. To save the saint, secret Christians, his tutor Saint Modestus and his nurse Saint Crescentia, secretly led Saint Vitus out of his parents’ house; protected by an angel of the Lord, they withdrew to Lucania, a region of Italy, and lived there in secret for a long time. Saint Vitus again healed the sick and made Christians of the pagans. The fame of his miracles spread through the whole country.
Saints Vitus and Modestus were denounced to the emperor. Saint Vitus exposed the madness of idol-worship and healed the emperor’s son, who was possessed by an evil spirit. Diocletian offered Saint Vitus honour, glory and wealth at the price of renouncing his faith, but the saint refused. Then he and Saint Modestus were thrown into a dungeon. After fervent prayer the saints were freed from their bonds. Diocletian considered this miracle sorcery and ordered Vitus to be thrown into a cauldron full of molten tin. The Lord kept His chosen one unharmed. Then Saint Vitus was thrown to a lion. He made the sign of the cross over it, and the beast lay down meekly at his feet. The holy martyrs were hung on a pillar and torn with iron hooks. Seeing this horror, Saint Crescentia came out of the crowd, declared herself a Christian, and denounced the emperor for his godlessness and cruelty. For this she too was cruelly tortured. Saint Vitus cried out to God: “O God, save us by Thy power and defend us.” Suddenly the earth shook, and many pagans perished under the ruins of buildings. An angel took the martyrs down from the pillar and carried them to Lucania. Saint Vitus besought the Lord to receive their souls in peace. And the Lord heard their prayer. The holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia met their end around 303. Their holy relics were translated to Prague. The holy right-believing Prince Wenceslas of Bohemia (commemorated 28 September) built a church dedicated to Saint Vitus, where the relics of the holy martyrs were later laid.
