Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and Licinius
Encyclopedia
Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus and Licinius (all died circa 295 AD) were Christian
soldiers who, according to local tradition, were martyred at Como
during the reign of Maximian
.
The cult of Fidelis of Como
is associated with these saints. Variations on more or less the same legend concern them. The first says that he, with Carpophorus and Exanthus, were Roman soldiers (members of the famed Theban Legion
) who deserted during the persecution of Christians by Maximian
. They were caught and executed at Como. The second says that Fidelis was an army officer who was guarding Christian prisoners at Milan, including Saint Alexander of Bergamo. He managed to procure the freedom of five of these prisoners. With Carpophorus and Exanthus, he and these five attempted to make their way to the Alps, but were executed at Como. The martyrdom is considered to have occurred on the north side of Lake Como
, near Samolaco
.
Their feast day is August 7. The church of San Carpoforo at Como, was, according to tradition, founded re-using a former temple of Mercury
to house the remains of Carpophorus and other local martyrs.
Just Carpophorus was often venerated with Fidelis of Como
, and both saints were in turn venerated at Arona with two other soldier saints, Felinus and Gratian
, on a joint feast day of March 13.
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...
soldiers who, according to local tradition, were martyred at Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
during the reign of Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
.
Legends
Fidelis of Como
-Legends:Fidelis' cult is associated with Carpophorus and Exanthus, two soldier-saints. Variations on their legend are applied to Fidelis. The first says that he, with Carpophorus and Exanthus, were Roman soldiers, members of the legendary Theban Legion, who deserted during the persecution of...
is associated with these saints. Variations on more or less the same legend concern them. The first says that he, with Carpophorus and Exanthus, were Roman soldiers (members of the famed Theban Legion
Theban Legion
The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as an entire Roman legion — of "six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men" — who had converted en masse to Christianity and were martyred together, in 286, according to the hagiographies of Saint Maurice, the chief among the Legion's...
) who deserted during the persecution of Christians by Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
. They were caught and executed at Como. The second says that Fidelis was an army officer who was guarding Christian prisoners at Milan, including Saint Alexander of Bergamo. He managed to procure the freedom of five of these prisoners. With Carpophorus and Exanthus, he and these five attempted to make their way to the Alps, but were executed at Como. The martyrdom is considered to have occurred on the north side of Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
, near Samolaco
Samolaco
Samolaco is a comune in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 90 km north of the regional capital Milan and about 40 km northwest of Sondrio...
.
Their feast day is August 7. The church of San Carpoforo at Como, was, according to tradition, founded re-using a former temple of Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
to house the remains of Carpophorus and other local martyrs.
Just Carpophorus was often venerated with Fidelis of Como
Fidelis of Como
-Legends:Fidelis' cult is associated with Carpophorus and Exanthus, two soldier-saints. Variations on their legend are applied to Fidelis. The first says that he, with Carpophorus and Exanthus, were Roman soldiers, members of the legendary Theban Legion, who deserted during the persecution of...
, and both saints were in turn venerated at Arona with two other soldier saints, Felinus and Gratian
Felinus and Gratian
Saints Felinus and Gratian are venerated as martyrs by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. They are patron saints of Arona, near Milan, where their relics were enshrined....
, on a joint feast day of March 13.