Saints Epimachus and Alexander, Martyrs
  December 12th  

    Whilst the persecution set on foot by Decius raged at Alexandria in 250 and the magistrates were active in searching for Christians, Alexander and Epimachus fell into their hands. Upon confessing the name of Jesus Christ they were loaded with chains and suffered a long and rigorous confinement. After this trial of their faith and patience they were beaten, their sides were torn with iron hooks, and they achieved the martyrdom by fire. St. Epimachus is the same who is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology, with St. Gordian, on May 10 as having had his relics translated from Alexandria to Rome. St. Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, an eyewitness of part of their sufferings, gives this short account of them, and also mentions four women martyrs who were crowned on the same day, and at the same place. Ammonaria, the forst of them, was cruelly tortured, but declared that nothing could make her repeat the blasphemies dictated by the judge, and was at length led to execution, being, as it seems, beheaded. The second was named Mercuria, a woman of considerable age; the third was Dionysia who, though a mother of children, cheerfully commended them to God and suffered for His love; the name of the fourth is not recorded. The judge was furious at not being able to break down the resolution of Ammonaria, and to save his face ordered the other three to be executed at once without preliminary torture.

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We know no more regarding SS. Epimachus and Alexander than we are told in a long extract which Eusebius (Eccles. Hist., bk vi, ch. 41) makes from a letter of St. Dionysius of Alexandria.

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Butler's Lives of The Saints, Herbert J. Thurston, S.J. and Donald Attwater
Nihil Obstat: PATRICIVS MORRIS, S.T.D., L.S.S., CENSOR DEPVTATVS.
Imprimatur: E. MORROGH BERNARD, VICARIVS GENERALIS
WESTMONASTERII: DIE XXIII FEBRVARII MCMLIII