Hieromartyr Sossius the Deacon at Pozzuoli

Saints Sossius, Proculus, and Faustus were deacons who suffered martyrdom for Christ with the hieromartyr Januarius Bishop of Beneventum, Desiderius the Reader, Eutychius and Acution about the year 305 during the persecution ordered by the emperor Diocletian (284-305).

Sts Sossius and Proculus were prisoners with the hieromartyr Januarius and two laymen, Sts Eutychius and Acution, in the city of Puteolum. The martyrs were led into the circus to be torn to pieces by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch them. Menignus claimed that all the miracles were due to sorcery on the part of the Christians, and immediately he became blinded and cried out for help. The gentle hieromartyr Januarius prayed for his healing, and Menignus recovered his sight. The torturer’s blindness of soul, however, was not healed. He accused the Christians of sorcery, and gave ordered the martyrs beheaded before the walls of the city (+ 305).