Saint Justus of Alcala

Biography

Saint Calocerus of Rome, also known as Calogero, Caio, and Calocero, was born around 250 AD in Armenia. He is recognized as the brother of Saint Parthenius and is known for his unwavering faith and martyrdom. Little is known about Calocerus' early life, except that he was born into a Christian family in Armenia during a time of intense persecution against Christians. Calocerus and his brother Parthenius were devout believers from an early age and committed themselves to the teachings of Christ. As adults, Calocerus and Parthenius found themselves in the services of Tryphonia, the wife of Emperor Decius. Calocerus served as a eunuch in her palace and was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing Anatolia, a region in Asia Minor. During his time in Anatolia, Calocerus was unjustly accused of embezzling money. The accusations were made by those who sought to undermine his position and authority. Additionally, Calocerus and his brother were known Christians, which made them vulnerable to persecution in the Roman Empire. Refusing to renounce their faith, Calocerus and Parthenius boldly defended Christianity in the face of the charges leveled against them. The court, interpreting their defense as an admission of their Christianity, ultimately sentenced them to death. As the brothers prepared to face their execution, Calocerus remained steadfast and resolute in his faith. It is said that he was thrown into a bonfire, but miraculously emerged unscathed by the flames. The guards, angered by this miraculous preservation, subsequently beat him to death with flaming brands from the fire. Following his martyrdom, Calocerus was buried in the catacombs of Saint Callixtus in Rome. His valiant witness to the Christian faith did not go unnoticed, and he was eventually canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. However, the exact date of his canonization is not clear since it occurred before the establishment of formal canonization procedures. Today, Saint Calocerus is venerated as a martyr and a shining example of unwavering faith. His feast day is celebrated on May 19th. While there is no recorded patronage associated with him, many faithful still seek his intercession in times of persecution and for the strength to remain steadfast in their own faith.