Boniface of Tarsus

) Boniface was one of Aglaida's slaves, the steward of her household. Both were pagans and lived in debauchery together; some legends say they were lovers. Hearing of reported miracles of healing in connection with the relics of martyrs, Aglaida decided to send him on an errand to collect holy relics. Finding upon arrival at Tarsus that the authorities were torturing Christians, he openly declared himself to be a Christian. After various tortures, he was beheaded with a sword. His own body constituted the relics that were brought back to Aglaida, who in turn became a Christian. In his memory she constructed a church, which today is the Church of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio. She distributed her wealth to the poor and lived in a monastery for 15 years. She apparently received the divine gift to exorcise evil spirits. ==Veneration==

The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates both of them on 19 December as the "Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia and Righteous Aglaida of Rome". He is invoked against drunkenness. the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar removed entirely the mention of this Boniface, who also is not among the nine saints of this name that the Roman Martyrology recognizes. Because of the date of his feast, Boniface of Tarsus was one of three who, because a cold spell was believed to be common on 12–14 May, were called the Ice Saints in Switzerland, Poland, Bohemia and eastern Germany, a tradition known also to Martin Luther. ==References==