The holy martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias suffered in Corinth during the persecution of Emperor Decius, in the year 251.
The hermit Codratus lived in solitude and silence in the mountains, remaining in unceasing prayer and contemplation of God. Many Corinthians came to him in the desert to listen to his teachings. Saint Victor also came to the hermit, together with Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens, and many others.
When Decius learned of this, he became enraged and ordered the military commander Jason to seize the Christians and cast them into prison. After unsuccessful attempts to make the saints renounce Christ, the ruler ordered them to be put to death. Saints Victorinus, Victor, and Nicephorus were placed in a stone mortar and died under the blows of a huge stone pestle.
Claudius died after his hands and feet had been cut off; Diodorus was burned; Serapion was beheaded; Papias was thrown into the sea.
In the place where these holy martyrs shed their blood, a spring of the purest water soon gushed forth. This happened on January 31, 251.
