Saint Lucillian was martyred under the Emperor Aurelian (270-275 A.D.). Lucillian was an elderly man who for much of his adult life was a pagan priest. He turned away from paganism when he discovered Christ and received holy illumination through the Mystery of Baptism. Later on, holy elder was arrested and brought before the magistrate Silvanus. As Lucillian refused to renounce his faith in Christ and had no intention of returning to his old religion, he was subjected to cruel tortures. He was imprisoned, scourged, suspended by ropes with his head toward the ground, and his jawbone was broken by the guards. In prison he met four youths (Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius) who were also imprisoned for their faith in Christ. Lucillian and the four youths were brought before the magistrate again. As the elder and the four youths remained firm in faith, the magistrate ordered that they be killed by being thrown into a furnace. It happened that a torrent of rain doused the fire of the furnace and the five brave Christians were spared death by fire. They were later led to (pre-Christian) Byzantium where they were martyred: the youths by beheading and the elder by crucifixion.
O Lord our God, your Holy Martyrs Lucillian, Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius, have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan's dreadful might. Through their supplications, O Christ God, save our souls!
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