Felinus and Gratian
Encyclopedia
Saints Felinus and Gratian(us) (sometimes Gratinian(us)) (d. 250 AD) are venerated as martyr
s by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
churches. They are patron saints of Arona, near Milan
, where their relics were enshrined.
The city of Arona celebrates two groups of martyrs on March 13: Felinus and Gratian, as well as Carpophorus
and Fidelis
. The festival of Tredicino is celebrated on the shores of Lago Maggiore.
. Sabine Baring-Gould
writes, however, that “the so-called Acts of SS. Gratian and Felinus, used as lections in the Arona Passionale, are extracted from the Acts of SS. Florentinus
and Companions, martyrs at Perugia commemorated the same day. But these Acts are in their turn not genuine; they are, in fact, the Acts of SS. Secundianus
and Comp. (Aug. 9th).” The cult of Gratian and Felinus rests on a shaky historical foundation. The garbling of lives and cults may have been purposeful, consisting of a mere alteration of the names of persons and places so as to make the Acts of Secundianus serve for Felinus and Gratian, and thus in the interests of Perugia.
The oldest document concerning Felinus and Gratian dates from the tenth century. The manuscript is made up of 249 sheets in parchment
and is written in Gothic script
and in medieval Latin
. According to the text, Felinus and Gratian were two soldiers of Perugia
, who were converted to Christianity
by the bishop of the city. During the persecution of Decius
, they were martyred for their faith. Felinus and Gratian have been identified as being identical to two other martyrs: Gratilianus and Felicissima, with “Felinus and Gratian” being a simple misreading for the names of two actual saints.
, whose relics were transferred to Arona during a time of war between Milan and Como
. Both Como and Arona claim the relics of Fidelis. The martyrdom of Fidelis is considered to have occurred on the north side of Lake Como
, near Samolaco
. His relics are considered to have been carried to Como in 964. In Arona, the presence of the relics of Fidelis and Carpophrous is attested in documents dating back to 1259 and 1321.
Goffredo da Bussero (1220–1289 ca.), discussing a group of martyrs of the Theban Legion killed in Lombard
territory, states: sed horum duo corpora ad monasterium de Arona dati sunt. This group has been identified as Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and Licinius
.
dedicated to them. Amitto’s foundation has been interpreted as a form of penance, since his soldiers had set fire to the portico
of the basilica of Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
.
Charles Borromeo
had become abbot commendatario of San Felino e San Graziano abbey in Arona on 20 November 1547. In 1576, Borromeo transferred the relics of Carpophorus and Fidelisto to Milan. Even though their veneration in Arona had been minimal, Borromeo's proposed transfer angered the people of the city. On March 13, as a compromise, Borromeo brought the two left forearms of the saints back to Arona. The city council, which had been pressured by the populace to bring back the relics, decreed that an annual festival should occur on that day. The day has increased in importance in succeeding centuries. The purpose of the festival was extended to include the celebration for the martyrs Felinus and Gratian, thereby unifying their veneration to that of Carpophorus and Fidelis.
Relics of all four saints are conserved in the church of Santi Martiri, also known as San Graziano, in Arona.
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 Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
churches. They are patron saints of Arona, near Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, where their relics were enshrined.
The city of Arona celebrates two groups of martyrs on March 13: Felinus and Gratian, as well as Carpophorus
Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and Licinius
Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus and Licinius were Christian soldiers who, according to local tradition, were martyred at Como during the reign of Maximian.-Legends:...
and Fidelis
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...
. The festival of Tredicino is celebrated on the shores of Lago Maggiore.
Historicity
Baronius inserted the names of Felinus and Gratian names into the Roman Martyrology, quoting as his authority the Acts preserved at PerugiaPerugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
. Sabine Baring-Gould
Sabine Baring-Gould
The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, Lew Trenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it...
writes, however, that “the so-called Acts of SS. Gratian and Felinus, used as lections in the Arona Passionale, are extracted from the Acts of SS. Florentinus
Florentinus
Florentinus was a Roman politician who served as Urban prefect of Rome from 395 to 397 AD.-Career:A native of Augusta Treverorum, Florentinus was possibly a Notarius around 379/380 AD. He was the Comes sacrarum largitionum in the west from 385 to 386 and the Quaestor sacri palatii in 395...
and Companions, martyrs at Perugia commemorated the same day. But these Acts are in their turn not genuine; they are, in fact, the Acts of SS. Secundianus
Secundian, Marcellian and Verian
Saints Secundian, Marcellian and Verian are venerated as Christian saints. They were martyred in 250 AD near Civitavecchia or Santa Marinella during the persecutions of Decius. Secundian was a senator or some sort of prominent official; Marcellian and Verian were scholars or students...
and Comp. (Aug. 9th).” The cult of Gratian and Felinus rests on a shaky historical foundation. The garbling of lives and cults may have been purposeful, consisting of a mere alteration of the names of persons and places so as to make the Acts of Secundianus serve for Felinus and Gratian, and thus in the interests of Perugia.
The oldest document concerning Felinus and Gratian dates from the tenth century. The manuscript is made up of 249 sheets in parchment
Parchment
Parchment is a thin material made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, often split. Its most common use was as a material for writing on, for documents, notes, or the pages of a book, codex or manuscript. It is distinct from leather in that parchment is limed but not tanned; therefore, it is very...
and is written in Gothic script
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
and in medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...
. According to the text, Felinus and Gratian were two soldiers of Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, who were converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
by the bishop of the city. During the persecution of Decius
Decius
Trajan Decius , was Roman Emperor from 249 to 251. In the last year of his reign, he co-ruled with his son Herennius Etruscus until they were both killed in the Battle of Abrittus.-Early life and rise to power:...
, they were martyred for their faith. Felinus and Gratian have been identified as being identical to two other martyrs: Gratilianus and Felicissima, with “Felinus and Gratian” being a simple misreading for the names of two actual saints.
Carpophorus and Fidelis
Legend holds that the associated pair of martyrs, Carpophorus and Fidelis, were members of the Theban LegionTheban 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...
, whose relics were transferred to Arona during a time of war between Milan and Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
. Both Como and Arona claim the relics of Fidelis. The martyrdom of Fidelis 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...
. His relics are considered to have been carried to Como in 964. In Arona, the presence of the relics of Fidelis and Carpophrous is attested in documents dating back to 1259 and 1321.
Goffredo da Bussero (1220–1289 ca.), discussing a group of martyrs of the Theban Legion killed in Lombard
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...
territory, states: sed horum duo corpora ad monasterium de Arona dati sunt. This group has been identified as Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and Licinius
Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus, and Licinius
Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus and Licinius were Christian soldiers who, according to local tradition, were martyred at Como during the reign of Maximian.-Legends:...
.
Veneration
In 979, the Count of Seprio, Amitto (Amizzone), captain of Otto I, transferred Felinus' and Gratian's relics, with the permission of the bishop, to Arona, and built a monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
dedicated to them. Amitto’s foundation has been interpreted as a form of penance, since his soldiers had set fire to the portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
of the basilica of Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls , commonly known as St Paul's Outside the Walls, is one of four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome: the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's and Saint Paul Outside the Walls...
.
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
had become abbot commendatario of San Felino e San Graziano abbey in Arona on 20 November 1547. In 1576, Borromeo transferred the relics of Carpophorus and Fidelisto to Milan. Even though their veneration in Arona had been minimal, Borromeo's proposed transfer angered the people of the city. On March 13, as a compromise, Borromeo brought the two left forearms of the saints back to Arona. The city council, which had been pressured by the populace to bring back the relics, decreed that an annual festival should occur on that day. The day has increased in importance in succeeding centuries. The purpose of the festival was extended to include the celebration for the martyrs Felinus and Gratian, thereby unifying their veneration to that of Carpophorus and Fidelis.
Relics of all four saints are conserved in the church of Santi Martiri, also known as San Graziano, in Arona.