Pontius of Cimiez [SEP] canonization status
Pontius of Cimiez
Saint Pontius of Cimiez, also known as Pons of Cimiez () is a Christian saint and martyr. His feast day is 14 May.
Life.
Born at Rome into a pagan family, Pontius converted to Christianity, giving away his property and preaching the Gospel. He is believed to have evangelised the valley of the Ubaye.
He was martyred at Cimiez, now part of Nice, in the south of France in the year 257 under the Emperor Valerian.
His name is preserved in
to persecution during the reigns of Valerian (253-260) and Gallienus (253-268), so Pontius left Italy to settle in Cimiez. However, Claudius, the governor of Gaul, implemented the imperial policy of persecuting Christians, resulting in Pontius being arrested. For refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods, he was sentenced to death. After several attempts at execution were ineffective, such as being thrown to two bears in the amphitheatre and being burnt at the stake, he was finally beheaded on a rock overlooking