Today is the feast of Saints Gordianus and Epimachus (died 360). These two saints are buried together about a mile from the city where they both perished. Epimachus was a Christian killed for his faith by Emperor Julian the Apostate.
Gordianus was one of Julian's commissioners. He was put in charge of compelling a man named Januarius to sacrifice to the gods and instead ended up listening and being persuaded by his talk. I suppose listening to the prisoners is an occupational hazard, but you wouldn't think it would sway too many imperial Romans. The fact that is did speaks to its power and logic, if not its supernatural origin.
Gordianus was discovered -- along with his wife Mariria and 53 others -- to have "gone Christian" and ordered to be beheaded unless he, too, sacrificed to the gods. He refused and gave his life for Christ in the year 360. To add insult to injury, his body was thrown out to be food for the dogs, but some faithful Christians recovered it and buried it with the aforesaid martyr's. Saints Gordianus and Epimachus, pray for us.
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