043 -- DREADFUL MARTYRDOM OF ROMANUS
Romanus, a native of Palestine, was deacon of the church of Caesarea, at the time of the
commencement of Diocletian's persecution, in the fourth century. He was at Antioch when the
imperial order came for sacrificing to idols, and was much grieved to see many Christians, through
fear, submit to the idolatrous command, and deny their faith in order to preserve their lives.
While reproving some of them for their weakness, Romanus was informed against, and
soon after arrested. Being brought to the tribunal, he confessed himself a Christian, and said he
was willing to suffer anything they could inflict upon him for his confession. When condemned, he
was scourged, put to the rack, and his body torn with hooks. While thus cruelly mangled, he turned
to the governor and thanked him for having opened for him so many mouths with which to preach
Christianity; "for," he said, "every wound, is a mouth to sing the praises of the Lord." He was soon
after slain by being strangled. -- Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
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