Holy Martyr Pontius the Senator

Life

The son of Senator Marcus and his wife Julia. The barren Julia conceived only after twenty-two years of married life and bore Pontius. Baptized by Pope Pontian together with his friend Valerius (the author of his biography), he succeeded in bringing to the Faith of Christ his own father Marcus, Emperor Philip and his son, and many other prominent Romans. As a senator he greatly protected and helped the Church, and was a great friend of Pope Fabian. When the persecution of Decius began, Pontius fled from Rome and hid beneath the Alps. But in the time of Valerian and Gallienus he was captured and subjected to terrible torments, during which many miracles of God were manifested and many were converted to Christ. There too were many Jews who cried out to the judge: "Kill, kill at once this sorcerer!" At this, Saint Pontius raised his hands to heaven and said: "I thank Thee, O my God, that the Jews too cry out against me, even as their fathers of old cried out against Christ: 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!'" He was beheaded by the sword in the year 257 and buried by his friend Valerius.