Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyred on the Via Ardeatina

Sts. Nereus and Achilleus were early Christian martyrs who were executed around 304 AD during the persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. They were soldiers in the Praetorian Guard who converted to Christianity and later resigned their commissions. They were arrested, tortured, and beheaded along the Via Ardeatina in Rome. Sts. Nereus and Achilleus are venerated for their courage in refusing to renounce their faith and for the miracles associated with their relics. They are the patrons of soldiers and are invoked against knee problems.