Orate pro nobis.
Victor of Marseilles (ancient Massalia - died c. 290) was an Egyptian Christian martyr. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church as are his companions.
Victor was a Roman army officer in Marseille, who publicly denounced the worship of idols and his exhortations to Christians to be firm in their faith in the face of an impending visit by the Emperor Maximian. He was then racked, beaten, dragged through the streets, and thrown into prison, where he converted three other Roman soldiers, Longinus, Alexander, and Felician, who were subsequently beheaded. After refusing to offer incense to a statue of the Roman god Jupiter, Victor kicked it over with his foot. The emperor ordered that he be put to death by being ground under a millstone, but the millstone broke while Victor was still alive. He was then beheaded.
Victor and the three other Roman soldiers he converted – Longinus, Alexander and Felician – were killed near the end of the 3rd century, c. 290 AD. In the 4th century, John Cassian built a monastery over the site where their bodies had been buried in a cave, which later became a Benedictine abbey and minor basilica. This is the Abbey of St Victor (Abbaye Saint-Victor).
Almighty God, who gave to your servants Victor, Longinus, Alexander and Felician boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
