Martyr Tiburtius of Rome

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the previously listed date (August 11) does not match any genuine Orthodox commemoration of a saint by this name — it is the Western (Roman Catholic) feast of a different Tiburtius, a deacon from the group of Martyr Sebastian of Milan, who is not commemorated separately in the Orthodox calendar but is included in the general feast of Sebastian's group (December 18/31). This entry has instead been identified with the better-known Tiburtius independently venerated in Orthodox tradition — the brother of Martyr Valerian, husband of Martyr Cecilia.

Saint Martyr Tiburtius was the brother of Martyr Valerian, husband of Martyr Cecilia of Rome. He was converted to Christ under his brother's influence after Valerian's vision of Bishop (Pope) Urban, and was baptized by the same bishop; together with Valerian he engaged in works of mercy — helping poor Christians and prisoners.

Seized by order of the Roman prefect Almachius, he refused to sacrifice to Jupiter and was beheaded together with Valerian. A Roman officer, Maximus, who witnessed the execution and, tradition holds, saw angels receiving their souls, himself came to believe in Christ and was later martyred as well; he is commemorated together with them.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the "Passion of St. Cecilia," the principal source for this account, is generally regarded by modern scholarship as a 5th-century hagiographic romance rather than a strictly historical document; the antiquity of Cecilia's own veneration (a titular church in Trastevere) is not in question.

His feast is kept on November 22/December 5.