A subdeacon of Rome, son of a priest, who gave himself to prayer and almsgiving and was tortured and beheaded near Spoleto for refusing to sacrifice to idols.
Feast Day
June 4
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The Holy Martyr Concordius of Spoleto, the Subdeacon
Life
Concordius of Spoleto was a second-century Roman martyr, remembered as a subdeacon of the Church of Rome who was put to death in central Italy for refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods. The accounts of his life describe him as the son of a presbyter named Gordian, raised in the Christian faith and devoted from his youth to a quiet life of prayer, fasting, and the distribution of alms to the poor.
His martyrdom is traditionally placed during the persecutions of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, around the year 175. Tried at Spoleto before Torquatus, the governor of Umbria, he was offered his freedom in exchange for worshipping an idol; he refused, was tortured, and was finally beheaded. He is venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholic traditions, his relics being kept in Italy near Spoleto.
Timeline4 momentsReadHide
2nd centuryBirth and upbringing in RomeConcordius was born at Rome, the son of the presbyter Gordian, and was raised in the Christian faith. Together with his father he gave himself to fasting, prayer, and generous almsgiving to the needy.
2nd centuryOrdination as subdeaconHe was appointed a subdeacon of the Church of Rome by Bishop Pius. The accounts portray him as living a withdrawn, prayerful life devoted to works of charity.
c. 175Arrest and trial at SpoletoDuring the persecutions associated with the emperor Marcus Aurelius, Concordius was seized and brought to Spoleto, where he was tried before Torquatus, the governor of Umbria. Offered his liberty if he would worship an idol, he refused and was beaten and imprisoned, chained by his neck and hands.
c. 175Martyrdom by beheadingPressed a final time to sacrifice and presented with an idol, he spat upon it. He was thereupon beheaded, completing his martyrdom near Spoleto.
Contributions & Legacy
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Trial and Martyrdom
The hagiographical accounts agree on the broad outline of Concordius's passion. Apprehended during a period of persecution under the emperor Marcus Aurelius, he was brought before Torquatus, the governor of Umbria, at Spoleto. The governor offered him release on condition that he renounce his faith and worship a statue of the Roman god Jupiter.
When Concordius refused, he was beaten — by some accounts with clubs and on the rack — yet according to the tradition he continued to praise Christ under torture. After a period of imprisonment he was given a final opportunity to sacrifice; instead of complying he spat upon the idol presented to him, and was beheaded. The event is dated by the sources to about the year 175.
Relics and Veneration
Saint Concordius is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which commemorates him on June 4, and as a pre-schism Western saint he is also honored in the Roman Catholic Church, where his feast is kept in early January. According to the Orthodox synaxarion his relics rest in Italy, not far from the city of Spoleto.
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