Martyrs Agapius Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, Dionysius, and Alexander of Caesarea
Martyred 303
Also known as Agapius · Publius (Pausis) · Timolaus · Romulus · Dionysius · Dionysius · Alexander · Alexander
A group of young Christians who suffered together at Caesarea in Palestine during the persecution under Diocletian. Refusing to offer pagan sacrifice, they were tortured and beheaded for confessing Christ.
Feast Day
March 15
Draft
Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.
The Holy Martyrs Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, Dionysius, and Alexander of Caesarea in Palestine
Life
Agapius, Publius (also called Pausis or Paesis), Timolaus, Romulus, two men named Dionysius, and two named Alexander were a group of Christians put to death together at Caesarea in Palestine during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. They are commemorated jointly on March 15.
Their martyrdom is among the episodes recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea in his account of the Martyrs of Palestine, written by a contemporary witness to the persecution. According to that account the bulk of the group, six young men, presented themselves of their own accord before the governor, binding their own hands as a sign that they came willingly to confess Christ.
Timeline 3 moments
ReadHide
303Voluntary confession before the governorDuring a public festival at Caesarea -- which the governor Urbanus marked with horse races and theatrical spectacles -- six young men bound their hands behind their backs and presented themselves before him, openly confessing their Christian faith. They were Timolaus of Pontus, Dionysius of Tripolis in Phoenicia, Romulus a subdeacon of the church of Diospolis, the Egyptians Paesis (Publius) and Alexander, and a second Alexander from Gaza.
303ImprisonmentThe governor, struck by their youth, attempted to dissuade them, but they remained firm. He ordered them imprisoned, where they were held for some days alongside two Christians already in custody: Agapius, who had previously been tortured, and Dionysius, who had supplied Agapius with food during his confinement.
303BeheadingAfter enduring torture, all of the group -- eight in number -- were beheaded together on the same day. Eusebius records the date of their execution as the twenty-fourth of Adar.
Contributions & Legacy
2 contributions
ReadHide
The martyrs and their origins
The accounts preserve the home regions of several of the band, drawn from across the eastern Roman provinces rather than from Caesarea itself. Timolaus came from Pontus on the Black Sea; Dionysius from Tripolis in Phoenicia; Romulus served as a subdeacon of the church of Diospolis (Lydda); Paesis and one Alexander were Egyptians; and a further Alexander was from Gaza.
To these six were joined Agapius and a second Dionysius, the latter described as a servant or attendant who had brought food to Agapius in prison. The synaxarion enumerates the full company as Agapius, Publius (Pausis), Timolaus, Romulus, two named Alexander, and two named Dionysius.
Historical record
The principal source for the martyrdom is Eusebius of Caesarea, bishop and historian, who lived through the persecution and compiled his Martyrs of Palestine as an eyewitness chronicle of those who suffered in the province. He sets the event in the second year of the persecution, amid the public games staged by the governor Urbanus, at which Christians were threatened with being thrown to the beasts in the theatre.
