February 23. S. MARTHA, _V. M. at Astorga, in Spain_, A.D. 251. S. PRIAMIAN, _B. M. at Ancona_. S. POLYCARP, _P. C. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 300. S. ROMANA, _V. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 324. S. SERENUS, _M. at Sirmisch, in Hungary, circ._ A.D. 327. S. PRIAMIANUS, _B. M. at Ancona_. SS. ZEBINAS, POLYCHRONIUS, MOSES, AND DAMIAN, _HH. in Syria, 5th cent._ S. DOSITHEUS, _Monk in Palestine, circ._ A.D. 530. S. FELIX, _B. of Brescia, circ._ A.D. 652. S. EARCONGOTHA, _V. Abss. at Faremoutier, end of 7th cent._ S. MILBURGH, _V. Abss. of Wenlock in Shropshire, 7th cent._ S. LAZARUS, Monk at Constantinople, circ. A.D. 870. S. CELSUS, _B. of Trèves, circ._ A.D. 980. B. PETER DAMIANI, _Card. B. of Ostia_, A.D. 1072. S. MARTHA, V. M. (A.D. 251.) [Roman Martyrology. Authority:--The ancient Acts, which are not, however, in their original form; but the substantial authenticity of the facts mentioned by them there is no reason to dispute.] This blessed saint suffered in the reign of Decius, under the proconsul Paternus. He ordered her to be racked, and beaten with knotted sticks, and then taken back to prison. She seems to have been noble by birth, and wealthy, for the proconsul endeavoured to persuade her to relinquish her religion and marry his son. She, however, constantly refused, declaring that she had chosen Jesus Christ as her heavenly bridegroom. She was then ordered to be executed with the sword, and her body to be cast into a foul place. It was withdrawn from this place by a pious matron; and her relics are preserved at the monastery of Rivæ de Sil, and in the church of Tera, in the diocese of Astorga. S. SERENUS, M. (ABOUT A.D. 327.) [Roman Martyrology; also the ancient one of S. Jerome. In the Anglican Martyrology of Richard Wilson (1608) on Feb. 24th. Authority:--The genuine Acts; of these there are two editions; one, the most ancient, given by Bollandus, terse and short; the other, by Ruinart, longer.]