Cantius, Cantianius, and Cantianella
Encyclopedia
Saints Cantius, Cantianius, and Cantianella (all died May 31, circa 304 AD) are venerated as saints and martyr
s by the Christian
church. Tradition states that the three were orphaned siblings, and members of a noble Roman family, the Anicii. They were related to the Emperor Carinus
. Protus was their tutor or guardian. He was a Christian who converted the three siblings.
When Diocletian
began to persecute Christians, the four left Rome
, selling their home and giving most of the proceeds to the poor. They reached their estate in Aquileia
. However, they were captured at a place called Aquae Gradatae (now called San Canzian d'Isonzo
). They were beheaded
after they refused to offer sacrifice to the civic gods.
in their honor, and the saints are also mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus
. Their cult was anciently diffused in Lombardy
, France
, and Germany
. A paleochristian basilica and tomb was discovered at San Canzian in recent times; it contained the remains of three individuals.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s by the Christian
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...
church. Tradition states that the three were orphaned siblings, and members of a noble Roman family, the Anicii. They were related to the Emperor Carinus
Carinus
Carinus , was Roman Emperor 282 to 285. The elder son of emperor Carus, he was appointed Caesar and co-emperor of the western portion of the empire upon his father's accession...
. Protus was their tutor or guardian. He was a Christian who converted the three siblings.
When Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
began to persecute Christians, the four left Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, selling their home and giving most of the proceeds to the poor. They reached their estate in Aquileia
Aquileia
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso , the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times...
. However, they were captured at a place called Aquae Gradatae (now called San Canzian d'Isonzo
San Canzian d'Isonzo
San Canzian d'Isonzo is a comune in the province of Gorizia, in Friuli – Venezia Giulia, Italy.The small town is situated about 30 kilometers from Gorizia, the capital of the province, and not too far west of the important port of Trieste...
). They were beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
after they refused to offer sacrifice to the civic gods.
Veneration
A priest named Zoelus embalmed and buried their bodies at the site. Saint Maximus of Turin subsequently preached a panegyricPanegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
in their honor, and the saints are also mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus
Venantius Fortunatus
Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus was a Latin poet and hymnodist in the Merovingian Court, and a Bishop of the early Catholic Church. He was never canonised but was venerated as Saint Venantius Fortunatus during the Middle Ages.-Life:Venantius Fortunatus was born between 530 and 540 A.D....
. Their cult was anciently diffused in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. A paleochristian basilica and tomb was discovered at San Canzian in recent times; it contained the remains of three individuals.