Holy Martyrs Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, Alexander, Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius of Palestine

These eight martyrs suffered at Caesarea in Palestine in the second year of the persecution under Diocletian, 303–304, before the governor Urbanus. At a pagan festival, while Christians were being thrown to beasts in the arena, six young men — Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, two named Alexander, and Dionysius — tied their own hands and ran before the governor crying, "We are Christians!"

They came from Pontus, Egypt, Tripoli in Phoenicia and Diospolis, where Romulus was a subdeacon. A few days later Agapius of Gaza, who had already confessed his faith under torture, was imprisoned with them, together with his servant, another Dionysius. After long imprisonment all eight were beheaded on one day. Their story is told by Eusebius of Caesarea.