Hyacinth and Protus
Encyclopedia
Saints Protus and Hyacinth were Christian
martyr
s during the persecution of Emperor Valerian I (257–259 AD). Protus' name is sometimes spelled Protatius, Proteus, Prothus, Prote, and Proto. His name was corrupted in England as Saint Pratt. Hyacinth is sometimes called by his Latin
name Hyacinthus (in ; ; and ).
The day of their annual commemoration is mentioned in the "Depositio Martyrum" on September 11, in the chronographia for the year 354. The chronographia also mentions their grave
s, in the Coemeterium of Basilla on the Via Salaria
, later the Catacomb of St. Hermes. The "Itineraries" and other early authorities likewise give this as their place of burial.
Tradition holds that Protus and Hyacinth were brothers. They served as chamberlains
to Saint Eugenia
, and were baptized along with her by Helenus, Bishop of Heliopolis
. Devoting themselves zealously to the study of Sacred Scripture, they lived with the hermit
s of Egypt
and later accompanied Eugenia to Rome
. There, they were arrested for their Christianity
by Emperor Gallienus
(260–268). Refusing to deny their faith, they were first scourge
d and then beheaded
on September 11.
of the above- mentioned catacomb. It was a small square niche
in which lay the ashes and pieces of burned bone
wrapped in the remains of costly stuffs. Evidently the saint had been burnt; most probably both martyrs had suffered death by fire. The niche was closed by a marble slab similar to that used to close a loculus
, and bearing the original Latin
inscription that confirmed the date in the old Roman Martyrology
:
D P III IDUS SEPTEBR
YACINTHUS
MARTYR
(Buried on 11 September Hyacinthus Martyr).
In the same chamber were found fragments of an architrave
belonging to some later decoration, with the words:
. . . S E P U L C R U M P R O T I M(artyris) . . .
(Grave of the Martyr Protus)
Thus both martyrs were buried in the same crypt. Pope Damasus I
wrote an epitaph
in honor of the two martyrs, part of which still exists. In the epitaph Pope Damasus calls Protus and Hyacinth "brothers." When Pope Leo IV
(847–855) transferred the bones of a large number of Roman martyrs to the churches of Rome
, the relics of these two saints were to be translated also; but, probably on account of the devastation of the burial chamber, only the grave of St. Protus was found. His bones were transferred to San Salvatore on the Palatine Hill
. The remains of St Hyacinth were placed (1849) in the chapel of the Propaganda College
. Later the tombs of the two saints and a stairway built at the end of the fourth century were discovered and restored.
of Blisland
in Cornwall
was dedicated to Saint Protus. It is known locally as St Pratt and St Hyacinth.
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...
martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s during the persecution of Emperor Valerian I (257–259 AD). Protus' name is sometimes spelled Protatius, Proteus, Prothus, Prote, and Proto. His name was corrupted in England as Saint Pratt. Hyacinth is sometimes called by his Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name Hyacinthus (in ; ; and ).
The day of their annual commemoration is mentioned in the "Depositio Martyrum" on September 11, in the chronographia for the year 354. The chronographia also mentions their grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
s, in the Coemeterium of Basilla on the Via Salaria
Via Salaria
The Via Salaria was an ancient Roman road in Italy.It eventually ran from Rome to Castrum Truentinum on the Adriatic coast - a distance of 242 km. The road also passed through Reate and Asculum...
, later the Catacomb of St. Hermes. The "Itineraries" and other early authorities likewise give this as their place of burial.
Tradition
Camerlengo
The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church (pl. Camerlenghi) The Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church (pl. Camerlenghi) (Italian for "Chamberlain", when referred to the Holy See; when referred to secular courts the word is "Ciambellano", pl...
to Saint Eugenia
Saint Eugenia
Saint Eugenia was an early Christian Roman martyr whose feast day is celebrated on December 25 in the Roman Catholic Church and on December 24 in the Eastern Orthodox church...
, and were baptized along with her by Helenus, Bishop of Heliopolis
Heliopolis (ancient)
Heliopolis was one of the oldest cities of ancient Egypt, the capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome that was located five miles east of the Nile to the north of the apex of the Nile Delta...
. Devoting themselves zealously to the study of Sacred Scripture, they lived with the hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
s of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and later accompanied Eugenia to 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...
. There, they were arrested for their 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 Emperor Gallienus
Gallienus
Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...
(260–268). Refusing to deny their faith, they were first scourge
Scourge
A scourge is a whip or lash, especially a multi-thong type used to inflict severe corporal punishment or self-mortification on the back.-Description:...
d and then 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...
on September 11.
The Graves of Sts. Protus and Hyacinth
In 1845 Father Marchi discovered the still undisturbed grave of St. Hyacinth in a cryptCrypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of the above- mentioned catacomb. It was a small square niche
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
in which lay the ashes and pieces of burned bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
wrapped in the remains of costly stuffs. Evidently the saint had been burnt; most probably both martyrs had suffered death by fire. The niche was closed by a marble slab similar to that used to close a loculus
Loculus (architecture)
Loculus is a Latin word literally meaning little place and was used in a number of senses. In architecture it is a recess large enough to receive a human corpse. Usually found in either a catacomb, hypogeum, mausoleum or other place of entombment. Loculus can also refer to an alternative name for...
, and bearing the original Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
inscription that confirmed the date in the old Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
:
D P III IDUS SEPTEBR
YACINTHUS
MARTYR
(Buried on 11 September Hyacinthus Martyr).
In the same chamber were found fragments of an architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
belonging to some later decoration, with the words:
. . . S E P U L C R U M P R O T I M(artyris) . . .
(Grave of the Martyr Protus)
Thus both martyrs were buried in the same crypt. Pope Damasus I
Pope Damasus I
Pope Saint Damasus I was the bishop of Rome from 366 to 384.He was born around 305, probably near the city of Idanha-a-Velha , in what is present-day Portugal, then part of the Western Roman Empire...
wrote an epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
in honor of the two martyrs, part of which still exists. In the epitaph Pope Damasus calls Protus and Hyacinth "brothers." When Pope Leo IV
Pope Leo IV
Pope Saint Leo IV was pope from 10 April 847 to 17 July 855.A Roman by birth, he was unanimously chosen to succeed Sergius II. When he was elected, on 10 April 847, he was cardinal of Santi Quattro Coronati, and had been subdeacon of Gregory IV and archpriest under his predecessor...
(847–855) transferred the bones of a large number of Roman martyrs to the churches of 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...
, the relics of these two saints were to be translated also; but, probably on account of the devastation of the burial chamber, only the grave of St. Protus was found. His bones were transferred to San Salvatore on the Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
. The remains of St Hyacinth were placed (1849) in the chapel of the Propaganda College
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
. Later the tombs of the two saints and a stairway built at the end of the fourth century were discovered and restored.
Cult in England
The parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Blisland
Blisland
Blisland is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is approximately five miles northeast of Bodmin. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 565....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
was dedicated to Saint Protus. It is known locally as St Pratt and St Hyacinth.
External links
- "SS. Protus and Hyacinthus, Martyrs", Butler's Lives of the Saints
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Sts. Protus and Hyacinth
- Catholic Culture: Sts. Protus and Hyacinth
- About Blisland in North Cornwall (refers to a church dedicated to these two saints)
- Santi Proto e Giacinto di Roma