Byzantine Saints: Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia, and Righteous Aglaϊa of Rome (19 December)

About this sermon

On December 19, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Boniface the Martyr of Tarsus in Cilicia and Righteous Aglaia of Rome, a powerful witness to repentance, transformation, and the mercy of God. Saint Boniface was once the slave of a wealthy Roman woman named Aglaia, with whom he lived in sinful cohabitation. Stricken by conscience, both desired cleansing from their sins. Through God’s providence, Boniface was sent east during a fierce persecution of Christians to bring back relics of the holy martyrs. What followed was a profound conversion. Upon witnessing the courage and grace of the persecuted Christians in Tarsus, Boniface openly confessed Christ. He endured brutal tortures—beatings, needles under his nails, molten tin poured down his throat, and immersion in boiling tar—yet remained unharmed by the power of God. Through these miracles, over 550 men came to believe in Christ. Saint Boniface was ultimately beheaded, and from his wound flowed both blood and a milky substance, confirming his sanctity. His relics were brought back to Rome, where Saint Aglaia, forewarned by an angel, received them with reverence. She built a church in his honor, distributed all her wealth to the poor, and spent 15 years in repentance and ascetic life before falling asleep in the Lord. She was buried beside Saint Boniface. The sins of one were washed away by blood; the other by tears. Today, Saint Boniface is especially invoked for deliverance from drunkenness, addiction, and passions of the flesh. “I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he should turn from his wickedness and live.” — Ezekiel 33:11 ☦️ May the prayers of Saint Boniface and Saint Aglaia lead us to repentance, purity, and salvation. 00:00 – Introduction & Feast Day (December 19) 00:28 – Saint Boniface & Aglaia’s Life of Sin 00:37 – Desire for Repentance & Martyr Relics 01:00 – Journey to Tarsus During Persecution 01:39 – Boniface Witnesses the Torture of Christians 01:59 – Confession of Christ Before the Judge 02:05 – Brutal Tortures & Miraculous Preservation 02:21 – Conversion of the Witnessing Crowd 02:39 – Boiling Tar & Angelic Intervention 02:56 – Martyrdom of Saint Boniface 03:02 – 550 Conversions to Christianity 03:08 – Discovery of the Relics 03:36 – Angel Appears to Aglaia 03:47 – Church Built & Miracles of the Relics 03:59 – Aglaia’s Life of Repentance 04:09 – Theological Meaning of Their Salvation 04:27 – Prayer to Saint Boniface Against Drunkenness https://www.oca.org/saints/lives 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #SaintBoniface #OrthodoxSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #OrthodoxChristianity #December19 #ChristianMartyrs #Repentance #OrthodoxFaith #SaintsAgainstAddiction #ChurchHistory

Topics

• Suffering & Trials