Patron Saint of Corrections Officers

Adrian of Nicomedia

Also known as

Hadrian of Nicomedia

Memorial

8 September (Roman calendar); 26 August (Greek calendar)

Profile

Pagan officer and body guard at the imperial court of Nicomedia. He was so impressed by the strength and faith shown by persecuted Christians that he declared himself a Christian, though he had not even been baptized. He was immediately arrested and tortured. He and fellow prisoners were tended by his wife, Saint Natalia until they were executed.

Died

hacked to pieces on 4 March 304; body burned, but when a storm extinguished the fire his wife salvaged his hand as a relic, and took it to Argyropolis near Constantinople; other relics at Grammont (Geertsbergen), Belgium

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Name Meaning

of Hadrian, Italy

Patronage

against plague; arms dealers; butchers; plague; plague epidemics; prison guards; soldiers

Print References

Dictionary of Saints, by John Delaney
Nuttall Encyclopaedia