Martyr 4th century

Martyr Pancratius of Rome

died c. 304

Also known as Pancras · Pancratius

A youth orphaned and brought to Rome, who confessed Christ at about fourteen years of age and was beheaded under Diocletian.

Feast Day

May 12

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Commemorated as

The Holy Martyr Pancratius of Rome

Life

Pancratius (Pancras) of Rome was a young martyr of the early fourth century, commemorated on May 12. According to his tradition he was orphaned and brought to Rome, where he embraced the Christian faith. He confessed Christ as a youth of about fourteen years and was beheaded during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian.

The account of his life relates that, left without his parents, Pancratius was raised in Rome under the care of relations and was converted to Christianity there. When the persecution reached him, he refused to renounce his faith despite his youth, and his steadfast confession before the authorities led to his execution. His martyrdom is traditionally placed on the Via Aurelia outside Rome.

By tradition his body was recovered by a faithful Roman woman and buried in the catacombs, and his veneration spread widely in the West from an early date, with many churches dedicated to him. As a pre-schism Western saint he is honored among the martyrs of the undivided Church.

Timeline 2 moments Read Hide

c. 289 Birth Born, by tradition, near the close of the third century, and orphaned in childhood.
c. 304 Martyrdom Beheaded at Rome under the persecution of Diocletian at about fourteen years of age, commemorated May 12.

Contributions & Legacy

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Origins and Conversion

The tradition relates that Pancratius was born around the close of the third century and lost both parents while still a child. Orphaned, he was brought to Rome and raised by kin, and it was there that he was received into the Christian faith. He is remembered as a zealous young believer.

His Region of Origin is given as Italy and Rome, the city with which his cult is most closely associated; a parallel Western tradition places his birth in Phrygia in Asia Minor before his removal to Rome.

Martyrdom

When the persecution of Diocletian fell upon the Christians of Rome, Pancratius, then about fourteen years of age, was brought before the authorities and pressed to abandon his faith. He refused, and for his confession he was beheaded, traditionally on May 12 in the early years of the fourth century.

His tradition holds that a Roman matron, named Octavilla in the Western accounts, recovered his body and buried it in a newly prepared tomb in the catacombs of Rome.

Notes

Pre-schism Western saint.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints