Saints of 28 June

The Vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul

The vigil of the holy apostles Peter and Paul.

St Leo II

At Rome, pope St. Leo II.

St Irenseus, bishop and martyr (Lyons)

At Lyons, in France, St. Irenseus, bishop and martyr, who, as is related by St. Jerome, was the disciple of blessed Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, and lived near the time of the Apostles. After having strenuously opposed the heretics by speech and writing, he was crowned with a glorious martyrdom, with almost all the people of his city, during the persecution of Severus.

Ss. Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides

At Alexandria, in the same persecution of Severus, the holy martyrs Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides, catechumen, Heron, neophyte, another Serenus, Rhais, catechumen, Potamicena and Marcella, her mother. Among them, the virgin Potamioena is particularly distinguished. She first endured many most painful trials for the preservation of her virginity, and then cruel and unheard-of torments for the faith, after which she and her mother were consumed with fire.

St Papius, martyr

The same day, during the persecution of Diocletian, St. Papius, martyr, who was scourged with knotted cords, cast into a caldron of seething oil and grease, and after other horrible torments, was decapitated, and thus won an eternal crown.

St Benignus of Maastricht

At Maestricht, St. Benignus, bishop and martyr.

St Argymirus of Córdoba

At Cordova, St. Argymirus, monk and martyr, who was slain for the faith of Christ during the persecution of the Arabs.

Pope St Paul I

At Rome, St. Paul, pope and confessor.