25 February
In a leap year, on the 25th, read: “The twenty-fifth day of February,” and then: “In Judea, etc.,” as marked for the 24th.)
IN Egypt, in the time of the emperor Maximian, the birthday of the holy martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, under the emperor Numerian. The first two, having borne with constancy torments of refined cruelty for the confession of the faith, were beheaded. Nicephorus, after having been laid on a heated grid- iron and on the fire, was hacked into small pieces. Claudian and Dioscorus were burned alive; Serapion and Papias were killed with the sword.—In Africa, the holy martyrs Donatus, Justus, Herena, and their companions.—At Rome, the birthday of pope St. Felix III., great-grandfather of St. Gregory the Great, who relates of him that he appeared to St. Tharsilla, his niece, and called her to the kingdom of heaven.—At Constantinople, St. Tharasius, bishop, a man of great erudition and piety, to whom is addressed an epistle of pope Adrian I., in defence of holy images.—At Nazianzus, St. Caesarius, whom his brother blessed Gregory the Theologian, says he saw among the hosts of the Blessed.And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.