Saint Adrian

Saint Adrian also Hadrian of Nicomedia was a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian. After converting to Christianity with his wife Natalia, Adrian and was martyred at Nicomedia on 04/03/306.

Above French statue of Saint Adrian

While presiding over the torture of a band of Christians, he asked them what reward they expected to receive from God. They replied, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him". He was so amazed at their courage that he publicly confessed his faith, though he had not himself yet been baptised. He was then imprisoned himself. He was forbidden visitors, but accounts state that his wife Natalia came to visit him dressed as a boy to ask for his prayers when he entered Heaven.

The next day his limbs were struck off on an anvil, and he was then beheaded, dying in the arms of Natalia. After he was killed, Adrian and several other martyrs were taken to be burned. When the executioners began to burn their bodies, a thunderstorm arose and the furnace was extinguished; lightning killed several of the executioners. Natalia had to be restrained to not throw herself on the fire when Adrian's body was being burned. Christians took Adrian's body and buried him on the outskirts of Byzantium, at Argyropolis.

Natalia went to live there herself, taking one of Adrian's hands which she had recovered. When she herself died, she was buried with the martyrs.

Saint Hadrian is protector against the plague, and patron of old soldiers, arms dealers, butchers and communications phenomena. He was the chief military saint of Northern Europe for many ages, second only to St. George, and is much revered in Flanders, Germany and the north of France. He is usually represented armed, with an anvil in his hands or at his feet.

Died 4 March 306, Nicomedia

Venerated in Roman Catholic Church

Major shrine Argyropolis near Constantinople;

Geraardsbergen, Belgium;

Church of St Adriano al Foro, Rome

Feast 8 September (Roman calendar)

26 August (Greek calendar)

1 December Attributes depicted armed, with an anvil in his hands or at his feet

Patronage plague, epilepsy, arms dealers, butchers, guards, soldiers.

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