Saint Hermias
Saint Hermias (died c. 170 AD in Comana, Cappadocia, modern Turkey) was a Roman soldier and martyr who was put to death at Comana in Cappadocia during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius for refusing to offer sacrifice to pagan gods. He is venerated in both the Eastern and Western Churches. His feast day is May 31.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Hermias
| Saint Hermias | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 31 |
| Profession | Roman soldier; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; martyr under Marcus Aurelius; venerated in both Eastern and Western traditions |
| Patronage | Soldiers; Comana; Cappadocia; those who endure prolonged suffering for the faith |
| Attributes | Roman military dress; palm (martyr); instruments of torture; fire or boiling water (the tortures he endured) |
| Birthplace | Unknown; served as soldier in Roman army in Cappadocia |
| Death Place | Comana, Cappadocia, modern Turkey |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; tortured and executed at Comana, Cappadocia, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius c. 170 AD for refusing to apostatize |
| Primary Shrine | Historical veneration at Comana, Cappadocia; his feast observed in Eastern Churches and listed in the Roman Martyrology |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast May 31; observed in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches; listed in Roman Martyrology |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; listed in the Roman Martyrology |
Biography
Hermias was a Roman soldier serving in or near Comana, a significant city of Cappadocia in Asia Minor (modern south-central Turkey). He was a Christian. During the reign of the philosophically inclined but religiously traditional Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180 AD), local governors intermittently persecuted Christians who refused civic religious obligations.
Hermias was brought before the governor at Comana — identified in his Passio as Sebastian — and ordered to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. He refused, confessing his Christian faith. He was subjected to torture: boiling water, fire, and other torments. His biography records that these did not destroy him, to the astonishment of his torturers. He was eventually killed — some accounts say beheaded or otherwise executed — around 170 AD.
He is venerated on May 31 in the Roman Martyrology and in the Eastern Churches.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Unknown; served as soldier in Roman army in Cappadocia
Death location: Comana, Cappadocia, modern Turkey
Notable location: The Roman city of his martyrdom; Comana was a significant city of Cappadocia with an important pagan temple complex; he was brought before the governor here and refused to sacrifice; he endured several rounds of torture before being executed (Comana, Cappadocia (modern Şar, Kahramanmaraş province, Turkey))
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Feast day
May 31
Veneration
Saint Hermias is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and in Eastern Christianity on May 31.
Prayers
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