Holy Martyr Pontius of Rome and the Hieromartyrs Anterus and Fabian, Popes of Rome

On this day, August 5 according to the Julian Calendar (August 18 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyr Pontius of Rome, together with the Hieromartyrs Anterus and Fabian, Popes of Rome.

The Holy Martyr Pontius lived in the third century. He was the son of Marcus, a pagan Roman senator, and of his wife Julia. Once, when Julia, being with child, entered the temple of Jupiter together with her husband, the demon that dwelt there cried out through the mouth of the pagan priest: „The infant that this woman carries in her womb shall shatter Jupiter and his altar!“ When the child came into the world, his mother, terrified by the prophecy, wished to put him to death, but her husband opposed her and the boy was spared. They named the child Pontius.

When he had grown, Saint Pontius became drawn to the teaching of the Christians and turned to Pontian, Pope of Rome, for counsel and instruction; his mind enlightened by the truth of the Christian faith, he confessed Christ. Pontius also converted his father, and Pontian baptized him together with his whole household. After his father’s death, Pontius, who was then twenty years old, was appointed by the emperor Alexander Severus (222–235) to his father’s place as a senator. In the Senate and in the emperor’s circle Pontius enjoyed universal esteem. Under Maximinus (235–238), the successor of the emperor Alexander, Pope Pontian ended his life as a martyr (†235).

After the holy Pope, the hierarch Anterus was chosen as bishop of Rome, and he soon shared the lot of his predecessor, being perfected in martyrdom for Christ (†236). Saint Fabian was enthroned upon the see of the blessed hieromartyr. Pontius, who loved the holy primate of the Church as a son loves a father, handed over his entire fortune to him for the needs of the poor. In 238 the lawless Maximinus died. The emperor Gordian III (238–244) came to the throne and put an end to the persecution of Christians. His successor, the emperor Philip (244–249), came to believe in Christ through the conversations and preaching of Saint Pontius, and together with his son and co-ruler Philip he was baptized by the hand of the holy Pope Fabian. With the emperor’s consent, Saint Pontius and the hierarch Fabian shattered the idol of Jupiter in the pagan sanctuary and raised an Orthodox church in its place.

For four years peace reigned in the Church of Christ; then the lawless Decius (249–251) ascended the throne, who contrived a conspiracy and put the emperor Philip and his son to death. In those days the hierarch Fabian was martyred (†250), and Saint Pontius left Rome for the city of Cimiez on the border of Italy and Gaul, where he lived the life of a hermit.

Meanwhile the emperor Valerian (253–259) sent executioners into every corner of the land with orders to seek out and destroy all Christians. For this purpose Claudius and Anabius came to the city of Cimiez. Saint Pontius fearlessly confessed Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to the idols. For this the blessed one was cast into prison. When the torturers prepared to torment Pontius, the saint calmly warned them that before the torture was ended they would become witnesses of the power of the Lord. And indeed, as soon as the servants attempted to fasten the blessed one to the rack, the instrument fell to pieces and the executioners dropped to the ground as though dead.

„Know, O man of false faith, the almighty power of my Lord,“ said Saint Pontius to Claudius; but on the advice of Anabius he cast the martyr before two bears in the circus to be torn apart. The beasts would not come near the saint, but tore the guards to shreds. „One is God, the God of the Christians, whom Pontius confesses!“ cried the people. At the command of the tormentors the executioners kindled a great fire to burn the blessed one. The fire went out, and Pontius remained unharmed. The onlookers cried out yet more loudly: „Great is the God of the Christians!“

Then the Jews who were present cried out in indignation: „Kill this sorcerer quickly!“ Pontius remembered how the crowd that desired the crucifixion of Christ had cried out to Pontius Pilate, „Crucify him, crucify him,“ and he gave thanks to the Lord. It was decided to behead the holy confessor. The sentence was carried out outside the city (†257). The relics of the saint were buried by his friend Valerian at the place of execution. Later the holy body was translated to the city of Nice, near Cimiez.