Martyr
Martyrs Sisinius and Cyriacus the Deacons and Those with Them
† 304–310
Also known as: Мчч. Сисиний и Кириак, диаконы, и иже с ними, Сисиний и Кириак диаконы, Смарагд, Ларгий, Апрониан, Сатурнин, Папий и Мавр воины, Крискентиан, мцц. Прискилла, Лукина и Артемия царевна, Кириак, Ларгий и Смарагд, Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus
Roman martyrs of the early fourth century — the deacons Sisinius and Cyriacus, Smaragdus, Largus, Apronianus, Saturninus, the soldiers Papias and Maurus, Crescentian, Priscilla, Lucina and Princess Artemia — commemorated with Pope Marcellus.
On 7 (20) June the Orthodox Church commemorates a group of Roman martyrs of the early fourth century, who suffered under Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius and Maxentius, together with Hieromartyr Marcellus, Pope of Rome. According to their Life, the Christian Thraso sent food and clothing to Christian convicts through Sisinius, Cyriacus, Smaragdus and Largus, and Pope Marcellus ordained Sisinius and Cyriacus deacons. Arrested and sent to forced labour, they also worked for the aged prisoner Saturninus. The jailer Apronianus was converted by Sisinius and beheaded; Sisinius and Saturninus were beheaded after torture, and the soldiers Papias and Maurus, converted by a miracle, died under torment.
Cyriacus is said to have freed Artemia, Diocletian's daughter, from a demon and baptized her, and later to have been sent to Persia to heal the daughter of the Persian king. Back in Rome he was seized on Galerius's orders and died under torture with Smaragdus, Largus and Crescentian; Princess Artemia was executed too. Marcellus buried the martyrs on the estate of Priscilla and Lucina, who were later banished.
This account comes from a later Passion of Pope Marcellus; historically certain are only the names of Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus, their martyrdom and their burial on the Via Ostiensis, commemorated in the West on 8 August.