Byzantine Saints: Martyrs Adrian and Natalia and 23 Companions, of Nicomedia (26 August)

About this sermon

On August 26, the Byzantine tradition commemorates the Martyrs Adrian and Natalia and 23 Companions of Nicomedia. St. Adrian was a young official who witnessed Christians being tortured for the Faith. Astonished by their courage, he asked what reward they expected from God. Their answer moved him so deeply that he ordered the scribes to add his own name to the list of Christians. When Emperor Maximian accused him of madness, Adrian answered: “I have not lost my mind, but rather I have found it.” His wife, St. Natalia, was secretly Christian. Rather than beg him to save his life, she encouraged him to remain faithful to Christ, reminding him that beauty, youth, and riches are dust and ashes, while faith and good works endure. When Adrian returned home briefly before his execution, Natalia initially feared that he had apostatized. Learning that he had only come to announce the day of his martyrdom, she continued strengthening him for the final trial. Adrian and the other martyrs were brutally killed, yet Natalia remained faithful to her husband and to Christ. She later fled to Byzantium, where Adrian appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would soon enter into rest with the Lord. Sts. Adrian and Natalia are honored as patrons of married couples. May their prayers strengthen Christian marriages in faith, courage, sacrifice, and eternal love. #StAdrian #StNatalia #ByzantineSaints #OrthodoxSaints #EasternCatholic #CatholicSaints #ChristianMartyrs #Nicomedia #CatholicMarriage #ChristianMarriage #SaintOfTheDay #SensusFidelium 00:00 Martyrs Adrian, Natalia & 23 Companions 00:25 Married in Nicomedia 00:32 Christians Are Denounced & Arrested 00:48 Adrian Witnesses Their Courage 00:57 What Reward Do the Martyrs Expect? 01:06 “Write My Name Down Also” 01:13 Maximian Confronts Adrian 01:29 “I Have Found My Mind” 01:36 Natalia Learns of Adrian’s Arrest 01:45 A Wife Encourages Her Husband 01:53 “Everything Worldly Is Dust and Ashes” 02:02 Adrian Is Temporarily Released 02:11 Natalia Fears He Has Apostatized 02:24 Adrian Is Tortured 02:32 He Challenges the Pagan Gods 02:39 Natalia Continues to Encourage Him 02:46 Natalia’s Prayer for Protection 02:54 The Martyrs Face the Anvil 03:03 Natalia Helps Adrian Face Death 03:10 A Storm Stops the Burning of Their Bodies 03:18 Natalia Preserves Adrian’s Hand 03:25 Natalia Flees to Byzantium 03:33 Adrian Appears to Her in a Dream 03:41 Patrons of Married Couples 03:48 Relics of St. Natalia #Saints #ChristianMartyrs #AdrianAndNatalia #FeastDay #ChristianMarriage #August26 #OrthodoxSaints #CatholicSaints https://www.oca.org/saints/lives 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Suffering & Trials