Holy Martyrs Lawrence the Archdeacon, Sixtus the Pope, Felicissimus and Agapitus the Deacons, and Romanus the Soldier of Rome — August 10 / August 23 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 10 according to the Julian Calendar (August 23 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Holy Martyrs Lawrence the Archdeacon, Sixtus the Pope, Felicissimus and Agapitus the Deacons, and Romanus the Soldier of Rome.

The holy martyrs Archdeacon Lawrence, Pope Sixtus, the deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus, and Romanus the soldier suffered in the year 258, during the reign of the Emperor Valerian (253–259). Pope Sixtus had been appointed to guide the Church of Rome after the martyric end of the holy Pope Stephen (+253–257; commemorated August 2). Soon Sixtus too was seized, and together with his two deacons, Felicissimus and Agapitus, he was cast into prison. When Archdeacon Lawrence met the pope as he was being led away to the dungeon, he cried out: “Where are you going, master? Do you leave behind your archdeacon, with whom you offered the bloodless sacrifice? Take me with you, that I too may share with you in the shedding of blood for Christ!” The blessed Sixtus answered him: “I am not leaving you, my child. I am old, and I go to an easy death. You will be tormented far more grievously. Know that three days after our end you shall follow me. But now go, sell the treasures of the church, and distribute them among the persecuted and the poor Christians.” And the saint fulfilled the hierarch’s blessing.

When Lawrence learned that the holy pope had been brought to judgment together with the deacons, he hurried to them and said to Sixtus: “Master, I have already completed the task — I have distributed the treasure you handed over to me; do not leave me behind!” Hearing something said about a treasure, the soldiers seized the blessed one, while the martyrs were beheaded (August 6, 258). The emperor shut Lawrence up in prison and entrusted his keeping to the jailer Hippolytus. There the holy archdeacon healed by prayer the sick who gathered around him.

Astonished at the miracles that were worked, Hippolytus came to believe in the true God and was baptized together with his whole household. Soon Saint Lawrence was again brought before the emperor, who demanded that he disclose the hiding place of the concealed treasure. The blessed one replied: “If you grant me three days’ time, I will show you the treasure.” During those days Lawrence gathered together the many crippled and destitute people who were sustained by the church alone, presented them to the emperor, and said: “Behold the vessels in which the treasure is laid up. All who store their riches in these earthen jars will receive them back with increase in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

After this the tormentors demanded that the lamb of Christ bow down to the idols, and when they received a firm refusal in answer, they brought fearful torments upon him: they scourged him with fine iron chains set with needles — the “scorpions” — they burned his wounds with fire, they struck him with rods of tin. During the martyr’s torture the soldier Romanus suddenly cried out: “Saint Lawrence, I see a youth standing near you and wiping away your wounds! For the sake of your Lord, Jesus Christ, do not leave me behind!” Lawrence was taken down from the rack of torture and returned to the prison, to Hippolytus. Romanus brought water to the blessed one in his cell in a pitcher and asked to be baptized. As soon as the holy mystery had been accomplished, this newly-entrusted sheep of Christ was beheaded (August 9).

When Lawrence was being led out for the last time to his torture, Hippolytus wished to declare his own faith and to die together with him, but the holy confessor forbade him: “Keep your confession hidden in your heart for now. Very soon I shall call you; you will heed me and come to me. Do not weep on my account — it is better that you rejoice: I am going to be adorned with the radiant crown of martyrdom.” The martyr was laid upon burning coals beneath an iron grate. The servants pressed down upon the blessed one’s body from above and intensified his suffering. Saint Lawrence turned his eyes to the judges and said: “One side is already roasted; turn me over!” Then, already at the point of death, he cried aloud: “I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that You have made me worthy to pass through Your gates,” and he gave up his spirit.

By night Saint Hippolytus carried away the holy body, wrapped it in cloths anointed with fragrant ointments, and made this known to the priest Justin. In the house of the widow Cyriaca they celebrated the all-night vigil and the Divine Liturgy over the relics of the God-pleaser. All the Christians who were present communed of the Holy Mysteries, and then, on August 10 of the year 258, the saint’s honorable body was buried in a cave. Saint Hippolytus and the other confessors suffered three days after the repose of Saint Lawrence (on August 13), just as the blessed archdeacon had foretold to them.