Holy Martyr Susanna the Virgin and Others with Her

Life

She was the daughter of the Roman presbyter Gabinius, and the niece of Pope Caius. Caius and Gabinius were of the imperial line and kinsmen of the reigning Emperor Diocletian. This emperor had an adopted son, Maximian Galerius, whom he wished to wed to Susanna. But Susanna was wholly devoted to Christ the Lord and would not hear of marriage at all, and especially not of marriage with an unbaptized man. Those nobles who came to ask for her hand on behalf of the emperor's son — Claudius and Maximus — Susanna converted to the Christian faith, together with their entire household. Enraged by this, the emperor ordered that the executioners take Claudius and Maximus, together with their families, to Ostia, where they were burned in fire and their ashes cast into the sea. Susanna, however, was beheaded by the sword in the house of Gabinius. The emperor's wife, Serena, a secret Christian, by night took the martyred body of Susanna and honorably buried it. And Pope Caius made that house, where Susanna perished, into a church and served the services in it. Shortly after the suffering of this bride of Christ, her father Gabinius and her uncle Pope Caius also suffered. All suffered honorably for the Lord and received the crown of glory in the years 295 and 296.