St. Germanicus of Smyrna

Feastday: January 19
Death: 155

Germanicus was a youth arrested and martyred for his faith in Smyrna (what is now Izmir, Turkey) during the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus. As Germanicus stood exposed in an arena to a wild beast, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him that in view of his youth he should deny his faith to obtain a pardon. But the young man refused to apostatize, and willingly embraced martyrdom.

Greek saint For other people named Germanicus, see Germanicus (disambiguation).

Saint Germanicus was a youth who was arrested and martyred for his faith in Smyrna during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus. As Germanicus stood in the arena, facing a wild beast, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him that in view of his youth he should deny his faith to obtain a pardon. But the young man refused to apostatize, and willingly embraced martyrdom.

Germanicus was praised for his courage facing the wild beasts used to kill him, and was referenced in the Martyrdom of Polycarp.