Adrian of Nicomedia
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Saint Adrian of Nicomedia (in Latin: Sanctus Hadrianus Nicomediae) was a Herculian Guard of the Roman Emperor Galerius Maximian. After becoming a convert to Christianity, Adrian was martyred at Nicomedia on March 4 303 or 304. It is said that 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" (I Corinthians 2:9). He was so amazed at their courage that he publicly confessed his faith. He was imprisoned, and the next day his limbs were struck off on an anvil, and he was then beheaded, dying in the arms of his wife, Saint Natalia of Nicomedia. 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. Later, Christians took Adrian's body and buried him on the outskirts of Byzantium.
Saint Adrian shares a feast day with his wife on September 8; he also has feast days alone on March 4 and August 26. He 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. gl:Santo Adrián