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From
apostolic times, deacons have served the people of God in many exemplary and
heroic ways. A few of them are listed in the Church's liturgical calendar
as role models. Many were martyred for their actions. We include
them here in order to remind us of their love for our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
encourage and strengthen our resolve to follow in their steps.
Jan. 10 -
Saint Nicanor
One of the
original seven deacons chosen by the Apostles. After the stoning of
Stephen he went on a mission to the Gentiles. He was put to death on
Cyprus during the persecution of Vespasian, about 67 AD.
Jan. 13 -
Saint Hermylus
A deacon in
Singudunum (now Belgrade), was arrested along with his servant, Stratonicus,
after being denounced to the authorities for being Christians. They were
tortured and drowned in the Danube River in 315 AD. Their bodies were
recovered by Christians and enshrined outside the city.
Jan. 21 -
Saints Augurius and Eulogius
Both were
arrested along with their bishop, St. Fructusus of Tarragona, then capital of
Spain, during the persecution of Valerian. When they refused to worship
to the pagan gods, and confessed their Christian faith, they were fastened to
stakes and burned alive in 259 AD.
Jan. 22 -
Saint Vincent
A Spanish
deacon, was tortured to death for the faith at Valencia about 304 AD during
the Diocletian persecution. St. Leo the Great is loud in his praise of
St. Vincent, and hymns of the Christian poet Prudentius were composed in his
honor.
Jan. 23 -
Saint Parmenas
One of the
original seven deacons chosen by the Apostles. He preached the gospel in
Asia Minor and was put to death at Philippi in Macedonia under the Emperor
Trajan about 98 AD.
Feb. 16 -
Saint Valens
A deacon of
the Jerusalem Church and an old man, was reputed by St. Jerome to know the
entire Bible by heart. He was put to death at Caesarea in 309 AD during
the last great Roman persecution.
Feb. 24 -
Saint Flavian
Among the
seven followers of St. Cyprian arrested and martyred at Cathage on the
complaint of the procurator Solon. All were tortured and beheaded during
Valerian's persecution in 259 AD.
Mar. 29 -
Saint Cyril
A Palestinian
deacon, was martyred about 362 AD under Julian the Apostate. According
to Theodoret, he was horribly mutilated before dying.
Mar. 31 -
Saint Benjamin
Arrested in
Persia for preaching against the cult of Mazda. When he refused to
promise to stop propagating Christianity, he was tortured and then impaled in
412 AD.
Apr. 4 -
Saint Agathopus
Along with
the lector Theodulus, was arrested for having a copy of the scriptures. On
the order of the governor Faustinus, they were weighted with rocks and cast
into the sea at Thessalonica in the year 303 AD.
Apr. 22 -
Saints Abdiesus and Azadanes
Two Persian
deacons who were put to death about 341 AD during the persecution which raged
throughout the reign of King Sapor.
Apr. 30 -
Saint James
Arrested with
the lector Marian at Cirta, Algeria during the persecution of the Emperor
Valerian. After being tortured they were taken to Lambesa, Numidia where
they were beheaded in the arena with other Christians about the year 259 AD.
June 6 -
Saint Philip
One of the
original seven deacons chosen by the Apostles. He preached in Samaria
(Acts 8:5) where he converted Simon Magus. He converted the treasurer of
the Queen of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26). St. Paul stayed with him in his home
in Caesarea (Acts 21:8).
June 9 -
Saint Vincent of Agen
A deacon in
Agen, Gascony, arrested for interrupting a Druid ceremony, was tortured and
then beheaded about 300 AD.
June 9 -
Saint Ephrem
Born of a
Christian family at Nisibis about 306 AD. He exercised his office of
deacon throughout the country as well as in Edessa where he founded a
theological school. He was a great preacher and author, writing many
books to confront the errors of his time. He died in 373 AD.
July 3 -
Saint Iranaeus
Arrested with
the matron Mustiola and accused of burying martyred Christians. They
were scourged to death at Chiusi in Tuscany under Aurelian in 273 AD.
July 15 -
Saint Barhadbescialas
Martyred in
354 AD under the Persian tyrant Sapor. His acts, written in Aramaic, are
still extant.
Aug. 6 -
Saints Vincent, Stephen, Magnus Januarius, Felicissimus, and Agapetus
These six
deacons were put to death with Pope Sixtus II during the Valerian persecution.
They were arrested in the cemetery of Praetexatus, outside Rome, where
the Pope was saying Mass. They were executed on this date in the year 258 AD.
Aug. 10 -
Saint Lawrence
A deacon
under Pope Sixtus II, he had come to Rome from his native Spain. After
the death of Sixtus, the Roman prefect demanded he turn over the treasury of
the Church to the Emperor. Lawrence then presented the prefect with a
collection of the blind, crippled, orphans, and other unfortunate people, and
told the prefect these were the Church's treasure. The infuriated
prefect ordered Lawrence to be fastened to a grid of iron and had a fire built
under him, roasting the martyr to death.
Aug. 15 -
Saint Tarsicius
It is not
clear whether he was an acolyte or deacon at Rome. He was beaten to
death on the Appian Way while carrying the Blessed Sacrament to Christian
prisoners. Pope Damasus wrote a poem about the incident. The exact
third century date is unknown.
Sept. 3 -
Saint Phoebe
Commended by
St. Paul to the Romans as deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, near Cornith
(Rom.16:1-2); referred to as an assistant to his ministry. A Christian-Gentile
woman whose name suggests was of pagan background and perhaps a freed slave.
She was an influential leader in her community and brought many to
follow Christ.
Sept. 4 -
Saint Marinus
Born of
Christian parents, he was a stone mason. He went to Rimini to find work
and was amazed to see people of high birth laboring there as slaves because
they refused to sacrifice to pagan gods. He worked to alleviate their
suffering. The bishop of Rimini ordained him deacon so that he could
baptize the many converts he was making. He retired to a hermitage
outside Rimini. A town built on the spot became the Republic of San
Marino. He lived during the fourth century.
Oct. 4 -
Saint Francis of Assisi
Born in 1182,
led a carefree youth but eventually renounced his wealth and committed himself
to a life of evangelical poverty, preaching the love of God to all. He
established a rule which many of his companions followed and he subsequently
founded an order of nuns and a society of lay persons who practice penance
while living in the world. Francis never felt worthy to be a priest and
remained a deacon to his death in 1226.
Oct. 9 -
Saint Eleutherius
Arrested
along with St. Denis, the first bishop of Paris, and his priest Rusticus
during the Decian persecution. The three were beheaded on this date in
258. Christians rescued their bodies from the Seine river. A
chapel built over their tomb developed into the Abbey of St. Denis.
Oct. 11 -
Saint Papylus
Arrested with
his bishop, St. Carpus; both were brought before the Roman governor at
Pergamus (Turkey) where they were ordered to sacrifice to the Roman gods.
When they refused, they were tortured and burned at the stake. Records
are unclear whether this happened during the persecution of Marcus Aurelius or
Decian.
Oct. 12 -
Saint Severus
Arrested
along with his bishop, St. Philip, and two lesser clergy, SS Hermes and
Eusebius. At their trial near Constantinople, they were ordered to
deliver up the Sacred Books of the Church. They refused and were taken
to Adrianople and tortured and burned at the stake during the year 304 AD.
Nov. 1 -
Saint Caesarius
A deacon from
Africa, condemned a human sacrifice being carried out at Terracina, Italy and
proclaimed himself a Christian. The pagan mob seized him along with the
priest, Julian, and threw both men into the sea. (First century).
Nov. 18 -
Saint Romanus
Born in
Palestine, became a deacon serving Caesarea and then Antioch. Arrested
for exhorting Christian prisoners to keep their faith. Ordered to die by
burning, he was saved when rain put out the fire. He was then tortured
and strangled in 304 AD.
Dec. 26 -
Saint Stephen
One of the
original seven deacons chosen by the Apostles. The first Christian
martyr whose life, work, and death is recorded in Acts. Considered one
of the patrons of permanent deacons.
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