Saint Aemilian of Durostorum

Aemilian was born at Durostorum in Moesia in the time of Emperor Julian the Apostate. He was a slave — according to another version, the son of a local official — of a harsh pagan master, who, on learning that he believed in Christ, had him flogged and threatened.

The next day Aemilian entered a pagan temple and smashed its statues with a hammer. Despite the threats he refused to renounce his faith, and his master handed him over for trial; in the end he was cast into the fire. His body was buried with honour by his master's wife, who was secretly a Christian.