Commemorated on March
19th
The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria and with them the Martyrs Claudius the
Tribune with his wife Hilaria and their sons Jason and Maurus, and Diodorus the
Presbyter and Marianus the Deacon.
St Chrysanthus came from a pagan family who had moved to Rome from
Alexandria. He received a fine education, and among the books he read were those
in which pagans discussed Christianity. The young man, however, wanted to read
books written by Christians themselves. He finally managed to find a copy of the
New Testament, which enlightened his rational soul.
Seeking someone to instruct him in the Holy Scriptures, he found the
presbyter Carpophoros hiding from persecution, and received holy Baptism from
him. After this, he began to preach the Gospel. Chrysanthus' father tried to
turn his son from Christianity, and finally married him to Daria, a priestess of
Minerva.
St Chrysanthus managed to convert his wife to Christ, and the young couple
mutually agreed to lead celibate lives. After the death of the father, they
began to live in separate houses. St Chrysanthus converted several young men to
Christ, and many pious women gathered around St Daria.
The people of Rome complained to the eparch Celerinus that Sts Chrysanthus
and Daria were preaching celibacy and attracting too many young men and women to
monasticism. St Chrysanthus was sent to the tribune Claudius for torture.
The torments, however, did not shake the bravery of the young martyr, since
the power of God clearly aided him. Struck by this, the tribune Claudius himself
came to believe in Christ and accepted holy Baptism together with his wife
Hilaria, their sons Jason and Maurus, and all his household and soldiers. When
news of this reached the emperor Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be
executed. The Martyr Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers
were beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a nearby
cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they followed her and
led her off for torture. The saint asked that they give her a few moments to
pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave up her soul to God. A servant buried
the saint in the cave beside her sons.
The torturers sent St Daria to a brothel, where she was protected by a lion
sent by God. A certain man who tried to defile the saint was knocked to the
ground and pinned down by the lion, but the lion did not kill him. The martyr
preached to them about Christ and set them to the path of salvation.
They threw St Chrysanthus into a foul-smelling pit, into which all the filth
of the city flowed. But a heavenly light shone on him, and the pit was filled
with a sweet fragrance.
Then the emperor Numerian ordered Sts Chrysanthus and Daria to be turned over
to the executioners. After many cruel tortures, the martyrs were buried alive in
the ground.
In a cave near the place of execution, Christians began to gather to honor
the anniversary of the saints' martyrdom. They celebrated Church services and
partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of this, the pagan authorities sealed
the entrance to the cave, and those within received the crown of martyrdom.
Two of these martyrs are known by name: the Presbyter Diodorus and the Deacon
Marianus.
Troparion Tone 1
Let us honour the like-minded pair of Martyrs,/ Chrysanthos scion of purity,
and supremely modest Daria./ United in holiness of faith, they shone forth as
communicants of God the Word./ They fought lawfully for Him and now save those
who sing:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened you; glory to Him Who has crowned
you;/ glory to Him Who through you works healings for all.
Kontakion Tone 1
O Chrysanthos, in the sweet fragrance of holiness/ thou didst draw Daria to
saving knowledge./ Together in contest you routed the serpent, the author of all
evil,/ and were worthily taken up to the heavenly realms.
Source: www.oca.org,
Menologian Software 2.0
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