Pancratius, a Youth of Fourteen Years, in the Year 303

At that time there was a Christian youth of fourteen years, called Pancratius, who, when he was brought before the Emperor Diocletian, found such special favor in the emperor's eyes that the emperor promised to adopt him as his son, if he would abandon Christ and show honor to the gods of the Romans. But this youth, who was old in the knowledge and love of his Savior, showed such steadfastness in defending his faith and despising the gods, that the emperor, filled with rage, commanded that he be beheaded on the Aurelian way, just outside the city of Rome. So this youth loved the honor of his Savior more than his own life, and therefore he is justly counted among the number of the pious martyrs. Acta per Sicrium, bona fide edita, secundum Mellinum, in Tract super, folio 139, column 4. [n254-1]