Felinus and Gratian

Last updated
Saints Felinus and Gratian
Died~250 AD
Perugia
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church,
Eastern Orthodox Church [1]
Major shrine Santi Martiri Church, Arona
Feast 1 June; (Joint local feast day with Carpophorus and Fidelis) 13 March
Attributes Military attire
Patronage Arona

Saints Felinus and Gratian(us) (sometimes Gratinian(us)) (d. 250 AD) are venerated as martyrs by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. They are patron saints of Arona, near Milan, where their relics were enshrined.

Contents

The city of Arona celebrates two groups of martyrs on 13 March: Felinus and Gratian, as well as Carpophorus and Fidelis. 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 Perugia. 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)." [2]

The cult of Gratian and Felinus, therefore, 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. [2]

The oldest document concerning Felinus and Gratian dates from the tenth century. [3] 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 [4]

Carpophorus and Fidelis

Legend holds that the associated pair of martyrs, Carpophorus and Fidelis, were members of the Theban Legion, 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. [3]

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. [3]

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 monastery 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. [3]

Charles Borromeo became abbot commendatario of San Felino e San Graziano abbey in Arona on 20 November 1547. [5] 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 13 March 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. [3]

Relics of all four saints are conserved in the church of Santi Martiri, also known as San Graziano, in Arona.

There is a statue of Felinus on the South transept spire of the Duomo di Milano. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arona, Piedmont</span> Comune in Piedmont, Italy

Arona is a town and comune on Lake Maggiore, in the province of Novara. Its main economic activity is tourism, especially from Milan, France and Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theban Legion</span> Group of Egyptian saints

The Theban Legion figures in Christian hagiography as a Roman legion from Egypt—"six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men"— Christians who were martyred together in 286, according to the hagiographies of Maurice, the chief among the Legion's saints. Their feast day is held on September 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Carlo al Corso</span> Roman Catholic basilica, a landmark of Rome, Italy

Sant'Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso is a basilica church in Rome, Italy, facing onto the central part of the Via del Corso. The apse of the church faces across the street, the Mausoleum of Augustus on Via di Ripetta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)</span>

May 31 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - June 2

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Maurus</span>

Victor the Moor was a native of Mauretania and a Christian martyr, according to tradition, and is venerated as a saint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gervasius and Protasius</span>

Saints Gervasius and Protasius are venerated as Christian martyrs, probably of the 2nd century. They are the patron saints of Milan and of haymakers and are invoked for the discovery of thieves. Their feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church is 19 June, the day marking the translation of their relics. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, their feast takes place on 14 October (O.S.)/24 October (N.S.), the traditional day of their death. In Christian iconography their emblems are the scourge, the club and the sword.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Crowned Martyrs</span> Martyrs and saints in Early Christianity

The Four Crowned Martyrs or Four Holy Crowned Ones were nine individuals who are venerated as martyrs and saints of Early Christianity. The nine saints are divided into two groups:

  1. Severus, Severian(us), Carpophorus (Carpoforus), Victorinus
  2. Claudius, Castorius, Symphorian (Simpronian), Nicostratus, and Simplicius
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simplician</span>

Simplician was Bishop of Milan from 397 to 400 or 401 AD. He is honoured as a Saint in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches and his feast day is August 14.

Carpophorus, Exanthus, Cassius, Severinus, Secundus and Licinius were Christian soldiers who, according to tradition, were martyred at Como during the reign of Maximian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander of Bergamo</span>

Alexander of Bergamo is the patron saint of Bergamo, as well as Capriate San Gervasio and Cervignano d'Adda. Alexander may have been a Roman soldier or resident of Bergamo who was tortured and killed for not renouncing his Christian faith. Details of his life are uncertain, but subsequent Christian stories consider him a centurion of the Theban Legion commanded by Maurice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fidelis of Como</span>

Fidelis of Como was an Italian soldier-saint, according to Christian tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perugia Cathedral</span> Catholic cathedral in Perugia, Umbria, Italy

Perugia Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Perugia, Umbria, central Italy, dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Formerly the seat of the bishops and archbishops of Perugia, it has been since 1986 the archiepiscopal seat of the Archdiocese of Perugia-Città della Pieve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secundian, Marcellian and Verian</span>

Saints Secundian(us), 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. Their feast day is August 9.

Amantius of Como is venerated as the third bishop of Como. He was preceded by Felix of Como and Provinus. He was succeeded by Abundius. His feast day is 8 April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiaffredo</span> Patron saint of Saluzzo, Italy

Chiaffredo is venerated as the patron saint of Saluzzo, Italy. Tradition considers him a member of the Theban Legion, but instead of being martyred with this legion at Agaunum, he escaped to Piedmont and was martyred there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnus of Anagni</span> Bishop

Saint Magnus of Anagni, also known as Magnus of Trani or Magnus of Fabrateria Vetus, is venerated as the patron saint of Anagni.

Tegulus is venerated as a member of the legendary Theban Legion, whose members were led by Maurice in the 3rd century. The center of Tegulus' cult is at Ivrea. Veneration of Tegulus actually arose at the end of the 10th century, when during the episcopate of Warmondus (Varmondo), the Tegulus's relics were discovered in a sepulcher situated a short distance away from Ivrea. The relics were translated to the cathedral of Ivrea within the city walls, and placed in the chapel of San Giacomo. The relics were later translated, with those of Bessus, to the chapel of Santissimo Sacramento.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of San Fedele, Como</span>

The Basilica of San Fedele in Como is located in the city center. The present Romanesque church dates from 1120 and is dedicated to the Fidelis of Como.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santi Martiri, Arona</span>

Santi Martiri also known as Chiesa di San Graziano is the Roman Catholic church located on a hill above Piazza San Graziano in the town of Arona, Province of Novara, Piedmont, Italy.

Fidelis is a given name and surname. The equivalent is Fidélis in Portuguese or Fidel in Spanish.

References

  1. ↑ Great Synaxaristes: (in Greek) Οἱ Ἅγιοι Φελινὸς καὶ Γρατινιανὸς οἱ Μάρτυρες. 1 Ιουνίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
  2. 1 2 Sabine Baring-Gould, The Lives of the Saints: June. (J. Hodges, 1874), 1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Pomi, Damiano. "Santi Graziano e Felino, Carpoforo e Fedele"
  4. 1 2 "South transept spire", Duomo di Milano
  5. ↑ "Patron Saints Index: Saint Charles Borromeo". Archived from the original on 2003-12-28. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.