The holy martyrs suffered under Emperor Diocletian in the city of Caesarea of Palestine. During a pagan festival, Christians who refused to offer sacrifices to idols were subjected to public tortures. The martyr Timothy was sentenced to be burned, while the martyrs Agapius and Thecla were given to be torn apart by wild beasts. The young Christians Puplius, Timolai, two Alexanders, Dionysius, and the deacon Romil decided to publicly confess their faith and suffer for Christ. They bound their hands and appeared before the governor Urban, who, seeing their youth, tried to persuade them to abandon their decision, but unsuccessfully. All of them were thrown into prison, where Agapius and his servant Dionysius were held. The saints were subjected to terrible torments and beheaded.
