St.Nereus and Achilles, martyrs

Saints

Holiday: May 12

† 258 or 304 (?)

Thanks to Pope St. Damasus (4th century), we have some information about the lives of St. Nereus and Achilles. Nereus and Achilles were soldiers in the Roman army, where they helped carry out the persecution of Christians. They probably had no animosity toward Christians and opposed the bloodshed they were ordered to carry out, but they submitted to these cruel orders out of fear of Domicileth. After all, such behavior is what is actually expected of soldiers. We do not know how they converted; we only know that it was a “miracle of faith.” After this miracle, they threw away their weapons and fled the camp, taking off their armor. As participants in the persecution, they knew better than any other Christian what pain awaited them. Faith finally triumphed over the fear of death, and the victory of faith was the most beautiful thing they had ever known. We know that they were martyred, but Damasus does not specify how.

Another legend says that they served Flavia Domitilla, a relative of Emperor Domitian, and were exiled with her and converted. This legend probably originates from the fact that the martyrs were buried in the cemetery that bears the name of St. Domitilla