Castulus

Castulus (died 286) is venerated as a martyr and saint. According to tradition, he was the chamberlain (or officer, valet) of Emperor Diocletian and the husband of Irene of Rome. A convert to the Christian religion, he sheltered Christians in his home and arranged for religious services inside the palace of the emperor because it was the last place that Roman authorities would search. Among those he sheltered were Mark and Marcellian. He is one of the saints associated with the life and legend of Sebastian. With his friend Tiburtius, he converted many men and woman to Christianity and brought them to Pope Caius to be baptized. He was betrayed by an apostate named Torquatus and taken before Fabian, prefect of the city. Castulus was tortured and executed by being buried alive in a sand pit on the Via Labicana. According to tradition, Irene subsequently buried the body. She was later martyred herself, around 288 AD (Source unknown).