Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia

Who they were

Adrian died a martyr around 306 in Diocletian's persecution; the Christians of Constantinople venerated his grave. Legendary records say he was an officer of the emperor Galerius's bodyguard who, watching the trial and torture of twenty-two Christians at Nicomedia, declared himself a Christian and was imprisoned with them. His wife Natalia, secretly a Christian, cared for him and his companions. They were put to death, their limbs broken, and Natalia is said to have taken his body to Constantinople.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: they have been honoured as martyrs since early times.

Why that counted as sanctity

A soldier moved by the courage of Christians under torture joined them, and his wife strengthened him to the end.

Connected on this site

• Adrian of Nicomedia Saint
  “Adrian of Nicomedia (also known as Hadrian) or Saint Adrian (Greek: Ἁδριανὸς Νικομηδείας, romanized: Adrianos Nikomēdeias, died 4 March 306) was a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius.” — Wikipedia