NEMESIANUS and COMPANIONS, saints, martyrs. — They are commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on September 10; however, the true dies natalis and even the martyrdom itself remain unknown. The notice originated from a letter that St. Cyprian wrote to N. and companions, who had been condemned to the mines of Sige in Mauretania.
In this letter, St. Cyprian extols in warm words their faith and constancy in enduring torments for the love of Jesus Christ, and reports that many had already won the palm of martyrdom either in prison or through the ill-treatment they suffered. The letter was written in 257–58 and, besides N., was addressed collectively to eight other bishops, many priests and deacons, and very many faithful of both sexes. The confessors were kept in separate groups, since three distinct replies were given to the letter of St. Cyprian. It remains unknown, however, whether they all died in the mines or whether any obtained release.