Hieromartyr
Hieromartyr Felicissimus of Rome, Deacon
†258
Hieromartyr Felicissimus, Deacon of Rome — one of two deacons (together with Agapitus) seized alongside Pope Sixtus II of Rome at the very start of the persecution under Emperor Valerian in August 258 and beheaded with him; a few days later the same wave of persecution claimed the life of their companion, Archdeacon Laurence.
Hieromartyr Felicissimus served as a deacon in Rome under Pope Sixtus II — a native of Athens who had preached in Spain and became head of the Roman Church after the martyrdom of Pope Stephen (253-257). When in August 258 Emperor Valerian's edict ordering the execution of all bishops, presbyters, and deacons was announced, Sixtus II was seized together with two of his deacons — Felicissimus and Agapitus. As they were led to execution, Archdeacon Laurence, whom Sixtus had entrusted with distributing the church treasury to the poor, begged to be taken too: "Father, I have already carried out your commission... do not leave me behind!" Felicissimus and Agapitus were beheaded together with Sixtus II; Laurence, overheard by the soldiers mentioning "treasure," was arrested separately and suffered martyrdom a few days later. The soldier Romanus, converted by witnessing their courage, also suffered and is commemorated on the same day. The memory of Hieromartyr Felicissimus, together with the whole group, is kept on August 10/23.