St. Daria and those with her at Rome Commemorated on March 19
Sts. Chrysánthus and Daria and St. Claudius the Tribune with his
wife, Hilaria, and their sons Jason and Maurus, and Diodorus the
Presbyter and Marianus the Deacon, were martyred in Rome under
Emperor Numerian in the third century. St. Chrysánthus came from
a pagan family who had moved to Rome from Alexandria. He
received an excellent education, and he read books in which
pagans discussed Christianity. The young man, however, wanted to
read books written by Christians themselves. He finally managed
to find a copy of the New Testament, which enlightened his soul.
Seeking someone to instruct him in the Holy Scriptures, he found
the presbyter Carpophoros hiding from persecution, and received
holy Baptism from him. After this, he began to preach the
Gospel. Chrysánthus’ father tried to turn his son away from
Christianity, and married him to Daria, a priestess of Minerva.
Chrysánthus managed to convert Daria to Christ, and the young
couple agreed to lea