During the persecutions of Christians under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, bishop Januarius was captured and subjected to cruel tortures for refusing to worship idols. He was thrown into a heated furnace, but remained unharmed thanks to the help of the Archangels. The military commander, not believing in the miracle, ordered the saint to be tortured even more. However, despite the suffering, bishop Januarius remained steadfast in his faith.
Together with the saint, there were two other clerics, deacon Festus and reader Desiderius. They were also captured and imprisoned, together with other christians condemned to death. All of them were brought out to the arena and handed over to the wild animas, which did not dare to touch the martyrs. All spectators remained shocked.
The military commander, having lost his sight, regained it through the prayers of Saint Januarius. However, instead of repenting, he ordered the execution of the holy martyrs. Januarius and his companions were killed outside the walls of Naples. Their bodies were preserved by the inhabitants of the surrounding areas, each of whom wished to have them as mediators before God. The body of Januarius was transferred to Naples, where many miracles occurred from then on.
One of the miracles is associated with the eruption of Vesuvius. Τhe inhabitants, praying to the saint, were saved from the hot lava that ruined the whole city. A miracle also occurred with the resurrection of the son of the widow Maximina, who was returned to life through prayer and with the help of the icon of the saint.
