Saint of the Day – 9 September – St Gorgonius of Nicomedia (Died c303) Confessor, Martyr, Soldier, Imperial Court Official and companions, St Dorotheus. After many horrific tortures these two were finally strangled to death in 303 in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey).
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Nicomedia, the holy Martyrs, Gorgontius, Dorotheus and others. The greatest honours had been conferred on them by the Emperor Diocletian but, as they detested the cruelty which he exercised against the Christians, they were, by his orders, suspended in his presence and lacerated with whips; then their skin being torn from their bodies and vinegar and salt poured over them, they were burned on a gridiron and finally, strangled. After some time, the body of the blessed Gorgonius was brought to Rome and deposited on the Latin Way. Thence, it was transferred to the Basilica of St Peter and later some Relics went to France.”
Gorgonius held a high position in the household of the Emperor and had often been entrusted with matters of the greatest importance.
At the onset of the persecution, he was consequently, among the first to be charged and, remaining constant in the profession of the Faith, was with his companions, Dorotheus, Peter and several others, subjected to the most frightful torments and finally strangled.
Diocletian, determined that their bodies should not receive the extraordinary honours which the early Christians were wont to pay the Relics of the Martyrs (honours so great as to occasion the charge of idolatry!) ordered them to be thrown into the sea.
The Christians, nevertheless, obtained possession of them and later, the body of Gorgonius was carried to Rome, whence, in the 8th Century, it was translated by St Chrodegang, Bishop of Metz and enshrined in the Monastery of Gorze. Many French Churches obtained portions of the Saint’s body from Gorze,but in the general pillage of the French Revolution, most of these relics were lost.
Our chief sources of information regarding these Martyrs are Lactantius and Eusebius. Our Saint today and his companions are celebrated today, 9 September. There are many magnificent Churches names for our Saint in Europe, especially in France, Belgium and Germany.
AnaStpaul 
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