Litany of Saints
Picture: Richard de Montbaston et collaborateurs · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Gorgonius

Christian martyr

SaintResearchedAncient RomePre-congregation

Feast: 9 September (1962 Missal) · not on the current Roman calendar

Born
300
Died
304
Beatified
not needed: before formal processes
Canonised
By tradition
recognised before formal processes began

Who they were

Gorgonius held a high position in the household of the emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia. When persecution broke out in 303-304 he was among the first accused and, remaining constant in the faith with his companions Dorotheus, Peter and others, was terribly tortured and finally strangled. The emperor had their bodies thrown into the sea so that Christians could not honour them, but the Christians recovered them; the body of Gorgonius was later taken to Rome, and in the eighth century to Gorze in Lorraine.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Gorgonius has been honoured as a martyr since the fourth century.

Why that counted as sanctity

Gorgonius gave up the emperor's favour and his life for Christ, among the first victims of the last great persecution.

Sources

Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.

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