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Greek Name Days

2nd century

Saint Hyacinth the Chamberlain

Chamberlain of the emperor Trajan from Caesarea in Cappadocia, who died of starvation in prison in 108 after refusing to eat food offered to idols.

3 July

Biography

Hyacinth came from Caesarea in Cappadocia and served as chamberlain at the court of Emperor Trajan. When persecution of Christians broke out, he did not hesitate to confess before the emperor himself that he was a Christian, despite the favour he enjoyed at the palace.

Trajan had him imprisoned without food, unless he agreed to eat meat that had been offered to idols. Hyacinth refused for forty days and died of starvation on the forty-first, in AD 108; his relics were later transferred to Caesarea.

Sources and further reading