Adrian of Nicomedia
saint martyred in 306
Feast: 4 March (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Hadrian was a martyr of Diocletian's persecution, around 306, whose grave the Christians of Constantinople venerated.
According to legendary accounts, he was an officer of Emperor Galerius's guard who, moved by the trial and torture of twenty-two Christians at Nicomedia, declared himself a Christian. His wife, Natalia, a secret Christian, cared for him and the other prisoners until they were put to death.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
An officer who confessed Christ on seeing Christians tortured, and died with them.
Connected on this site
- Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia Saint honoured together
- Natalia of Nicomedia Saint Spouse“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
- Adrian and Natalia 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
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Sts. Hadrian and Natalia
- Wikidata Q374822 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.