St. Pancras of Rome

Pancras of Rome was born in A.D. 289 in Phrygia, a region in present-day Turkey. Orphaned at a young age, he was later taken in and raised by his uncle, Dionysius of Rome. During that time, when Christian persecutions were increasing, they moved to Rome.

Amid dangers and persecutions, Pancras embraced Christianity with fervent faith and received Baptism like his uncle. The young boy’s dedication to his faith was so strong that it drew the attention of the authorities. At the age of fourteen, he was arrested and threatened. Even though he was given many chances to renounce his faith, he did not waver.

On May 12, A.D. 304, like his uncle, he was beheaded and became a martyr for the faith. The courage and unwavering faith with which that young boy faced death inspired many Christians, who had been living in fear, to live their faith boldly.

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(Prayer of a Martyr, written by Ignatius of Antioch)

“I am the wheat of God,
and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts
so that I may be found to be the pure bread of God.

I desire only Jesus Christ,
the true God and the only Son of the Father.
I seek Him who died and rose again for us.
I desire to die for Him.

My love has been crucified,
and there is no fire in me that loves anything else.
But within me there is living water springing up,
which says to me inwardly:
‘Come to the Father.’

Amen.”

Date Created	12 May 2026
Categories	Saints