Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
two brothers who, during the reign of Diocletian, went as missionaries from Rome to Gaul, and settled at Soissons. In order to support themselves and to have access to the people, they became shoemakers. Thus they worked for some time for the propagation of Christianity, until 287, when, by order of the emperor Maximinianus, they were beheaded. They are commemorated in the Church of Rome on Oct. 25, and are commonly venerated as the special patrons of the shoemakers. There is a legend (for which, however, there seems to be no foundation) about these saints to the ‘effect that they stole from rich persons the leather to make gratuitously shoes for the poor. — Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lex. 2:918.