Feast of Ss. Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus, Mm.

 

Cyriacus the Deacon was long kept in prison with Sisinius, Largus, and Smaragdus, and wrought many wonderful works. Among other things he by his prayers freed from a devil Arthemia, a daughter of Diocletian, and, being sent to Sapor, King of the Persians, also delivered his daughter Jobia from a foul spirit. He baptized the king, her father, and four hundred and thirty others, and afterwards returned to Rome. He was arrested by command of the Emperor Maximian, and dragged in chains before his chariot. Then after four days he was brought forth from prison, had boiling pitch poured upon him, was stretched on a block, (and belaboured with a cudgel,) and at last was slain with the axe, along with Largus, Smaragdus, and twenty others, at the gardens of Sallust, on the Salarian Way. On this Way were their bodies buried by John the Priest, on the 16th day of March, in the year of our Lord 303, but afterwards, on the 8th of August, Pope Marcellus and the noble lady Lucina took them and wrapped them in linen, and embalmed them with costly ointments, and carried them to the farm belonging to the said lady Lucina, at the seventh milestone from Rome on the road to Ostia.

                                           - Breviarium Romanum