Saint Martyr Roman, deacon of the Caesarean church, lived in Antioch during the persecutions of Christians. He urged the faithful to defend the Christian temple from the wicked eparch Asclepiades, who wanted to destroy it. Roman reproached the pagans and, when he was captured, boldly confessed Christ despite severe tortures.
In the crowd was the Christian youth Varul, who also confessed faith in Christ and wisely answered the eparch's questions. For this, he was cruelly tortured, but Varul's mother supported him, assuring him of eternal life. After the youth was beheaded, his mother lovingly buried his body.
Roman was sentenced to be burned, but despite the heavy rain, he remained unharmed. His tongue was cut out, yet he continued to confess Christ. Ultimately, he was strangled by order of Emperor Maximian. Saint Roman completed his suffering for Christ and is now glorified in the Kingdom of Heaven.
