Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion

Cornelius was a Roman centurion of the Italian cohort stationed at Caesarea, whose story is told in chapter 10 of the Acts of the Apostles. A God-fearing man who gave generously to the poor, he is said there to have received a vision telling him to send for Peter, and Peter came and baptized him with his household, the first Gentile convert recorded in the book.

His later life is known from the Life that Dimitry of Rostov retells. It says he went to the city of Skepsis, in Asia Minor, where the governor Demetrius threatened him; when an earthquake brought down the temple of Zeus, the Life tells, Demetrius's wife and son were saved, and Demetrius and many others were baptized. Cornelius died there and was buried near the ruined temple; his relics were found much later.