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'Saint Adrian' or 'Hadrian of Nicomedia' was a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian. After becoming a convert to Christianity, Adrian was martyred at Nicomedia on March 4 ''ca''. 306.[5]

Contents

Account of Martyrdom

Questions

Feast Day and Patronage

References

Account of Martyrdom

It is said that while presiding over the torture of a band of Christians, he asked them what reward they expected to receive from God. They replied, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (''I Corinthians 2:9''). He was so amazed at their courage that he publicly confessed his faith, though he had not himself yet been baptised. He was then immediately imprisoned himself. He was forbidden vistiors, but accounts state that his wife 'Saint Natalia of Nicomedia' came to visit him dressed as a boy to ask for his prayers when he entered Heaven. The next day his limbs were struck off on an anvil, and he was then beheaded, dying in the arms of Natalia. After he was killed, Adrian and several other martyrs were taken to be burned. When the executioners began to burn their bodies, a thunderstorm arose and the furnace was extinguished; lightning killed several of the executioners. Natalia had to be restrained to not throw herself on the fire when Adrian's body was being burned. Later, Christians took Adrian's body and buried him on the outskirts of Byzantium, at Argyropolis.
Natalia went to live there herself, taking one of Adrian's hands which she had recovered. When she herself died, she was buried with the martyrs.

Questions

The accuracy of the recorded story has been questioned. Some sources state that there were actually two Adrians martyred at Nicomedia, one under Diocletian, and one under Licinius.

Feast Day and Patronage

Saint Adrian shares a feast day with his wife on September 8; he also has feast days alone on March 4 and August 26. He is protector against the plague, and patron of old soldiers, arms dealers, butchers and communications phenomena. He was the chief military saint of Northern Europe for many ages, second only to St. George, and is much revered in Flanders, Germany and the north of France. He is usually represented armed, with an anvil in his hands or at his feet.

References

1. Holweck, F. G. "A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints". St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1924.


★ Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. ''The Penguin Dictionary of Saints''. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.