Saints Protus and Hyacinth were Christian martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Valerian (257–259 AD).

This states that they served as eunuch chamberlains to Saint Eugenia, and were baptized along with her by Helenus, Bishop of Heliopolis.

Devoting themselves zealously to the study of sacred scripture, they lived with the hermits of Egypt and later accompanied Eugenia to Rome.

Pope Damasus I wrote an epitaph in honor of the two martyrs, part of which still exists,[3] in which he calls Protus and Hyacinth "brothers".

[5] When Pope Leo IV (847–855) transferred the bones of many Roman martyrs to the churches of Rome, the relics of these two saints were to be translated also; but, probably on account of the devastation of the burial chamber, only the grave of St. Protus was found at that time and his remains transferred to San Salvatore on the Palatine Hill.

It was a small square niche in which lay the ashes and pieces of burned bone (many martyrdoms at that time were by fire) wrapped in the remains of costly stuffs.