Pope St. Sixtus II and Companions

In 258, Pope St. Sixtus II and several of his deacons were martyred during the persecution of the Church under Emperor Valerian. During this round of persecution, he was one of the first with Januarius, Felicissimus, and Agapitus to be beheaded. Pope St. Sixtus II’s most famous deacon, St. Lawrence of Rome, would be killed four days after. "The faithful offered their necks to the sword, but as soon as the Pastor saw the ones who wished to rob (St. Sixtus II) of the palm (of martyrdom) he was the first to offer himself and his own head." - An epitaph on the grave of Pope Sixtus II