Martyrs Romanus Jacob and Companions of Samosata

Romanus, Jacob, and their companions, Philotheus, Hyperechius, Abibus, Julian, and Paregorius, were seven martyrs of Samosata, a city of Syria on the river Euphrates. They are commemorated on January 29.

By the accounts they suffered in the year 297, during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian. They boldly denounced the worship of idols and refused to offer sacrifice; by the tradition they were seized while keeping the feast of the Cross. For their confession of Christ they were martyred together, by tradition fastened to crosses.