Arthelais
Encyclopedia
Saint Arthelais (544–560) is venerated as a Christian
saint
. She is one of the patron saints of Benevento
, with Saints Barbatus of Benevento and Bartholomew being the others. Her feast day is on March 3.
The daughter of an imperial proconsul
named Lucius and his wife Aithuesa, Arthelais is said to have been pursued by Justinian, who desired her. However, Arthelais had taken vows of chastity
. She was kidnapped
while escaping to Benevento
, where her uncle Narses Patricius lived. However, a miracle
is said to have led to her liberation. She later died of a fever.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. She is one of the patron saints of Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, with Saints Barbatus of Benevento and Bartholomew being the others. Her feast day is on March 3.
The daughter of an imperial proconsul
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
named Lucius and his wife Aithuesa, Arthelais is said to have been pursued by Justinian, who desired her. However, Arthelais had taken vows of chastity
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
. She was kidnapped
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
while escaping to Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, where her uncle Narses Patricius lived. However, a miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
is said to have led to her liberation. She later died of a fever.
External links
- Saint Arthelais at Catholic Online