Aurelianus

Who they were

Aurelian was a Christian who lived and died in Rome in the first half of the 3rd century, during the persecution of the emperor Decius, having made himself known through his sharp criticism of pagan religion and corrupt morals. According to his legendary Passio, he was tortured on the orders of the prefect Hylas; when he refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, their statues were found overturned, and the prefect himself was struck with paralysis, which Aurelian healed at his request.

Brought before the emperor Decius, Aurelian rebuked him for idolatry; when he also healed the emperor's daughter of possession, Decius still had him tortured, his tongue cut out, and finally beheaded along with his son Maximus. They were buried in the cemetery of Callixtus on the Appian Way; at an uncertain date, perhaps under the Lombards or the Franks, his relics were brought to Pavia, where he is still venerated.

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

Roman martyr under the emperor Decius, whose relics were later brought to Pavia, where he is venerated; feast 22 May.