Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, sent his disciples to various countries to preach the word of God. Upon learning of the persecutions against Christians in Gaul, he sent the priests Andochius and Venignus and the deacon Firminus. They arrived in the city of Édu, where they met the senator Faustus, who asked them to baptize his family. Faustus brought to them his son Symphorian, who later suffered for Christ.
Faustus also mentioned his sister Leonilla and her grandchildren, who remained pagans. Saint Venignus went to her, and she gladly accepted him. Leonilla urged her grandchildren to abandon idols and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Under the influence of her words and visions, the youths turned to faith and were baptized.
After their conversion, the brothers destroyed the idols in their home, which provoked the wrath of the pagans. They were arrested and tortured, but they steadfastly confessed their faith. The judges tried to force them to worship idols, but the youths refused, asserting that dying for Christ is happiness.
The saints were bound and thrown into the fire, but remained unharmed. Finally, they surrendered their souls to God, and their bodies were buried in the village of Urvat, where a temple was later built. After their death, Saint Leonilla and a woman named Jovilla also suffered for the faith.
All this happened on January 16 during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
