June 28th

Saint Potamiaena and Companions, Martyrs of Alexandria

Saint · Common of Martyrs · Alexandria, Egypt · d. c. 202

At Alexandria in Egypt, under the emperor Septimius Severus, the holy martyrs Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides a catechumen, Heron a neophyte, another Serenus, Herais a catechumen, Potamiaena, and Marcella her mother, who, all illustrious disciples of Origen, confessed Christ, some by the sword, others by fire; among whom Potamiaena the virgin especially shone, who first endured countless struggles for her virginity, and at last suffered unheard-of torments for the faith and was consumed by fire together with her mother.

At Rome, Saint Paul I, pope, who, gentle and exceedingly merciful, went about the cells of the poor and the sick by night in silence, ministering food to them. A defender of the orthodox faith, he wrote to the emperors Constantine and Leo that the sacred images might be restored to their former state of veneration; and a diligent venerator of the saints, he gathered the bodies of the martyrs from the ruined cemeteries and, with hymns and canticles, set them within the City among the title-churches and monasteries, striving to honor them.

Latin Original

— Alexandríz in /Egypto, sub Septimio Sevéro imperatóre, sanc. tórum mártyrum Plutárchi, Seréni, Heraclídis catechüámeni, Herónis neóphyti alteriásque Seréni, Heráidis catechümenze, Potamicenz et Marcéllze, matris eius, qui omnes illüstres Orígenis discípuli, álii per gládium, álii per ignem Christum conféssi sunt; inter quos przcípue enítuit Potamicena virgo, quae primum innümeros agónes pro virginitáte conséruit, ad áltimum inaudíta torménta Do fide passa est et una cum matre igne consümpta. J. Romse, sancti Pauli papze Primi, qui, mitis et valde miséricors, nocte cellas páuperum infirmórum siléntio circumiébat, illis ministrans alimónia; orthodóxz fídei defénsor, Constantíno et Leóni Augüstis scripsit, ut in prístinum veneratiónis statum sacrae Imágines restitueréntur; sanctorüámque sédulus cultor de dírutis coemetériis mártyrum córpora cum hymnis et cánticis intra Urbem per títulos et monastéria constituit studuítque honoráre.