Saint Pionius

Memorial: 1 February
Profile: Priest. Noted scholar and preacher. May have been responsible for reviving veneration of Polycarp of Smyrna.

During the persecutions of Decius, Pionius and fifteen followers, hearing they were about to be arrested, spent the night of 22-23 February 250 in prayer; they were arrested in the morning at the end of Mass. They had put on their own chains and shackles to make it obvious that they were prisoners, and not going to aposticize. Every time he was taken into public, the courts, or anywhere out of his cell, Pionius preached faith to the Christians, civility to the pagans. Racked and torn with hooks to make him sacrifice to pagan gods; he refused. Martyr.
Born: at Smyrna, Turkey
Died: burned at the stake on 12 March 250
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Additional Information: Martyrdom of Pionius and his Companions
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