Saint Nazarius (Roman Martyrology)
Encyclopedia
Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor and Nazarius are saints of the Roman Catholic Church
, mentioned in the Martyrology of Bede
and earlier editions of the Roman Martyrology
for 12 June as four Roman
martyrs who suffered death under Diocletian
.
It has been said that their names were taken from the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
, in the Berne
MS., where it says: Romæ, via Aurelia miliario V, Basiledis, Tribuli, Nagesi, Magdaletis, Zabini, Aureli, Cirini, Nabori, Nazari, Donatellæ, Secundæ. The second name in the list, Tribulus, is derived from a place-name, Tripoli
, as is evident from the Echternach
MS., and those following it have also an African origin.
The group of three supposedly Roman saints, Cyrinus, Nabor, Nazarius, to which was later added Basilides, has in the "Sacramentarium Gelasianum" its special form of invocation in the Canon of the Mass
. The date and the circumstances of their deaths are unknown.
In the General Roman Calendar of 1962
, they have a commemoration on 12 June.
Their joint commemoration was removed from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints
in 1969 because of the completely fabulous character of their Passio; the 12 June celebration was in reality a conflation of three distinct commemorations on the same day: the burial of Saint Basilides, a Roman martyr, on the Via Aurelia
, the transfer on the Via Appia of the relics of Saint Quirinus of Sescia
, and the dedication of the Basilica of the Milan
ese martyrs Nabor
and Nazarius
on the Via Aurelia.
Of the four named, the Roman Martyrology now mentions only Basilides among the saints honoured on 12 June. In an ancient itinerary to the graves of the Roman martyrs, mention is made of a mortuary chapel of this martyr Basilides on the Via Aurelia.
The relics of Nazarius and Nabor were transferred by Chrodegang of Metz
to his diocese, Nazarius specifically to Lorsch Abbey
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, mentioned in the Martyrology of Bede
Bede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
and earlier editions of the 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:...
for 12 June as four Roman
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...
martyrs who suffered death under Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
.
It has been said that their names were taken from the Martyrologium Hieronymianum
Martyrologium Hieronymianum
The Martyrologium Hieronymianum was a medieval list of martyrs, one of the most used and influential of the Middle Ages...
, in the Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
MS., where it says: Romæ, via Aurelia miliario V, Basiledis, Tribuli, Nagesi, Magdaletis, Zabini, Aureli, Cirini, Nabori, Nazari, Donatellæ, Secundæ. The second name in the list, Tribulus, is derived from a place-name, Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, as is evident from the Echternach
Echternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
MS., and those following it have also an African origin.
The group of three supposedly Roman saints, Cyrinus, Nabor, Nazarius, to which was later added Basilides, has in the "Sacramentarium Gelasianum" its special form of invocation in the Canon of the Mass
Canon of the Mass
Canon of the Mass is the name given in the Roman Missal, from the first typical edition of Pope Pius V in 1570 to that of Pope John XXIII in 1962, to the part of the Mass of the Roman Rite that begins after the Sanctus with the words Te igitur...
. The date and the circumstances of their deaths are unknown.
In the General Roman Calendar of 1962
General Roman Calendar of 1962
This article lists the feast days of the General Roman Calendar as it was in 1962, following the reforms that Pope John XXIII introduced with his motu proprio Rubricarum instructum of 23 July 1960...
, they have a commemoration on 12 June.
Their joint commemoration was removed from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints
Roman Catholic calendar of saints
The General Roman Calendar indicates the days of the year to which are assigned the liturgical celebrations of saints and of the mysteries of the Lord that are to be observed wherever the Roman Rite is used...
in 1969 because of the completely fabulous character of their Passio; the 12 June celebration was in reality a conflation of three distinct commemorations on the same day: the burial of Saint Basilides, a Roman martyr, on the Via Aurelia
Via Aurelia
The Via Aurelia was a Roman road in Italy constructed around the year 241 BC. The project was undertaken by C. Aurelius Cotta, who at that time was censor...
, the transfer on the Via Appia of the relics of Saint Quirinus of Sescia
Saint Quirinus of Sescia
Saint Quirinus is venerated as an early bishop of Sescia, now Sisak in Croatia. He is mentioned by Eusebius of Caesarea.A Passio, considered unreliable, states that Quirinus was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian after being arrested in 309. Quirinus had attempted to flee but was...
, and the dedication of the Basilica of the 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 ,...
ese martyrs Nabor
Nabor and Felix
Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed to contain their relics.In the apocryphal "Acts of Saints Nabor and Felix" Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed...
and Nazarius
Nazarius and Celsus
Saints Nazarius and Celsus were two martyrs of whom nothing is known except the discovery of their bodies by Saint Ambrose.According to Paulinus the Deacon's Vita Ambrosii, Ambrose, at some time within the last three years of his life, after the death of the Emperor Theodosius Saints Nazarius and...
on the Via Aurelia.
Of the four named, the Roman Martyrology now mentions only Basilides among the saints honoured on 12 June. In an ancient itinerary to the graves of the Roman martyrs, mention is made of a mortuary chapel of this martyr Basilides on the Via Aurelia.
The relics of Nazarius and Nabor were transferred by Chrodegang of Metz
Chrodegang of Metz
Saint Chrodegang was the Frankish Bishop of Metz from 742 or 748 until his death.-Biography:He was born in the early eighth century at Hesbaye of a noble Frankish family that via his mother Landrada was related to the Robertians, and died at Metz, March 6, 766.He was educated at the court of...
to his diocese, Nazarius specifically to Lorsch Abbey
Lorsch Abbey
The Abbey of Lorsch is a former Imperial Abbey in Lorsch, Germany, about 10 km east of Worms, one of the most renowned monasteries of the Carolingian Empire. Even in its ruined state, its remains are among the most important pre-Romanesque–Carolingian style buildings in Germany...
.