Pancharius was born in Villach, in present-day Austria. He was a high-ranking officer at the court of Diocletian and Maximian. He was a captain of the royal guard, who developed a strong friendship with Diocletian. When he was young, he was given royal honors. He had denied Christ. His mother wrote him a letter full of pain and sorrow. “Do not be afraid of men,” she wrote, “but it is essential to fear God’s judgment. You should have confessed your faith in Christ before emperors and lords and not to have denied Him. He abandoned Christianity and became a pagan. His mother and sister sent him a letter in which they urged him to fear God and the dread Last Judgment. They quoted the words of Jesus Christ, “Whosoever shall deny Me before men, I will deny before My Father which is in heaven.” Pancharius repented He openly confessed his faith before the emperor. He suffered torture in Rome. Then he was sent to Nicomedia and beheaded in 303.