December 20 - The story of Theophilus is known to us through St. Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, Egypt: a poor man was tried in the court of that city on the sole pretext that he was a Christian.

He was probably about to become an apostolic when a colossus, a veteran of the governor's guard, approached him and encouraged him not to deny his faith. It is Theophilus, who is there accompanied by four friends, Ingene, Zeno, Ammon and Ptolemy. All five, in a threatening voice, tell the judge that they too are Christians. The magistrate thought it wiser to withdraw, and Theophilus emerges from the court, escorting the accused. Saint Denys says nothing about the eventual outcome of the story. Theophilus is said to have died in 251, but it is not known whether he was martyred or not.