Holy Martyr Lupus
This holy man was a servant of St. Dimitrios of Salonica. When St. Dimitrios was beheaded by the Emperor Maximian, Lupus dipped the hem of his garment and his ring in the martyr's blood. Lupus worked many miracles in Salonica with this garment and ring, healing people of every pain and infirmity. Emperor Maximian, who was still staying in Salonica, discovered this, and commanded that Lupus be tortured and killed. But the soldiers who drew their weapons on Lupus turned one on the other and wounded one another. As Lupus was not yet baptised, although he was a Christian, he prayed to God that He would somehow bring about his baptism before his death. On this, water suddenly poured down on the holy martyr from a cloud, and he thus received baptism. After harsh torture, he was beheaded and entered into the heavenly Kingdom.
Hieromartyr Pothinus, Bishop of Lyons
He was sent by St. Polycarp from Asia Minor to preach in Gaul. He became the first Bishop of Lyons and brought many pagans to Christianity. At the time of a persecution of Christians in the year 177, Pothinus was taken for trial; carried there, as he was ninety years old. "Who is the Christian God?", the proconsul asked him. "You will find out, if you are worthy", old Pothinus answered him. The pagans assaulted him with sticks and stones, and belaboured him without mercy. Thrown into prison, St. Pothinus died of the beating and entered into the heavenly Kingdom.
Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons
He was in his youth a pupil of St. Polycarp, the disciple of the apostles, who sent him to preach in Gaul. After St. Pothinus's death by martyrdom, Irenaeus was made bishop. In his numerous writings, Irenaeus both expounded the Orthodox faith and defended it against heretics. He suffered for Christ in the time of the Emperor Severus, in 202, along with nineteen thousand Christians.
St. Victor
He suffered in Marseilles in the third century. After harsh torture, he was thrown into prison, where he converted the guards to the Christian faith. He died by crucifixion.
St. Alban
An English nobleman, he hid a Christian priest in his house during a persecution, and was instructed by him in the Christian faith. He then gave his clothing to the priest and himself over to torture. Condemned to death, he converted his executioner to Christianity. Translator's note: St. Alban is more usually commemorated on June 22nd.