“Valerian [Roman Emperor from 253-259], in a rescript to the senate, had ordered that bishops, presbyters and deacons should be executed at once; that senators, men of rank and Roman knights should be deprived of their status and goods if they continued, despite this, to say they were Christians, that they should be put to death; that matrons should be deprived of their goods and sent into exile; that members of the imperial household who had confessed Christ previously or confessed Christ now should have their goods confiscated and should themselves be put in irons and assigned to the imperial estates.
The emperor Valerian had added to the rescript a copy of the letter that he addressed concerning us to the provincial governors. We hope daily to see the letter arrive, standing in the firmness of our faith and ready to suffer, awaiting from the wealth and mercy of the LORD the crown of eternal life. Know that Sixtus was executed in the cemetery on 6 August [in the year 258] with four deacons. The prefects in the city press this persecution more actively each day, executing those who are handed over to them and confiscating their goods into the treasury.”
Cyprian of Carthage (born, c. 200. He recorded this 6 August 258 account in Epistle 81.1-4 of his 82 extant epistles. These are among his famous last words as he was beheaded and received his eternal rewards on 14 September 258). Cf. Bernard Green, Christianity in Ancient Rome (London: T&T Clark, 2010), p. 162-63.