Holy Martyr Laurence the Archdeacon

Life

When Pope Stephen perished (see August 2), the holy Sixtus was appointed in his place. He was an Athenian by birth, at first a philosopher and then a Christian. At that time the Roman bishops perished one after another, so that to become a bishop in Rome meant the same as being led out to death. Emperor Decius was determined to destroy Christianity, and Pope Sixtus was soon brought to trial with his two deacons, Felicissimus and Agapitus. When they were being led to prison, Laurence said to the pope: "Where are you going, father, without your son? Where, O hierarch, without your archdeacon?" The pope comforted him, prophesying that he too would endure even greater sufferings for Christ and would soon follow him. And indeed, as soon as Sixtus and his two deacons were beheaded, Laurence was seized. He had previously set in order all his own and the church's affairs. As the treasurer and steward of the church, he transferred all the church's valuables to the home of a certain widow, Cyriaca. On that occasion he healed Cyriaca of a severe headache by the touch of his hands, and restored sight to the blind man Crescention. Cast into prison, Laurence healed from blindness also a certain long-time prisoner Lucillus, and then baptized him. Seeing this, the jailer Hippolytus was also baptized, and afterward suffered for Christ (see August 13). Since Laurence would not deny Christ, but rather counseled Emperor Decius to renounce the false gods, he was struck with stones upon his face and over his whole body with a scorpion, that is, a chain with sharp barbs. A certain soldier, Romanus, who was present at the torture, believed in Christ and was immediately beheaded. Finally they placed Laurence naked upon an iron grate and set fire beneath it. Being roasted on the fire, Saint Laurence gave thanks to God and mocked the emperor for his paganism. When he surrendered his pure and heroic soul to God, Hippolytus took his body at night and carried it first to the house of Cyriaca, and then to a cave, where he honorably buried it. Saint Laurence and the others suffered in the year 258.

From the Hymn of Praise

The impious emperor asked Laurence:"Where are you from? What is your rank?"Laurence answered the emperor:"From Spain, raised in Rome,