3rd century
Saint Porphyrius the Mime
A stage mime from Ephesus who, according to the Synaxarion, became a Christian and was beheaded around 270, in the reign of Emperor Aurelian.
Biography
Porphyrius came from Ephesus and grew up among theatre mimes; performing this art under Emperor Aurelian, he often mocked Christian customs and rites.
The sudden death of his daughter crushed him; he gave up his profession and wandered in mourning, until he found comfort among the very Christians he had ridiculed. He was baptized and publicly renounced idolatry.
When the prefect called on him to sacrifice to the idols, he refused and was beheaded.