Ferreolus and Ferrutio
Encyclopedia
Saints Ferreolus and Ferrutio (died ca. 212 AD) are venerated as martyr
s and saints by the Catholic Church. Their legendary acts state that they were converted to Christianity
by Saint Polycarp. They were brothers who were ordained as a priest
and deacon
, respectively, by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons. They were sent to the area around Besançon
as missionaries. They are called natives of Asia Minor
; Alban Butler
believed that they have been Greeks from Athens
, "but it is more probable that they were natives of Gaul who had studied in Asia Minor and come under Christian influence."
After working as missionaries amongst the Sequani
for 30 years, in 212, during the persecution of Alexander Severus
, they were arrested, tortured and beheaded
.
According to their legend, their relics were discovered in a cave
near Besançon in 370 by a military tribune
whose dog was chasing a fox
. The relics were enshrined by Bishop Anianus of Besançon in the 4th century. Saint Gregory of Tours writes that miracle
s were attributed to their relics in his time; he says that his brother-in-law was cured of a dangerous distemper at the saints' intercession. The Missale Gothicum (ca. 700 AD) contains a full proper of the Mass in their honor. In the sixteenth century, they were invoked in Besançon against sickness, along with Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch.
Ferreolus appears in a catalogue of the 17th century as a bishop of Besançon, but the liturgy
of Besançon has always remembered Ferreolus as a priest, and Ferrutio as a deacon. Ferreolus and Ferrutio, as patrons of Besançon, are considered to have appeared on the city walls in times of danger. The two saints have been represented in stained glass
, paintings, and statues
in many churches and chapels in the two dioceses of the Franche-Comté
: Saint-Claude
and Besançon.
The Basilique Saint-Ferjeux is a basilica
that is situated in the neighborhood of Saint-Ferjeux, Besançon.
They are depicted on a French lantern slide dating from 1900.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s and saints by the Catholic Church. Their legendary acts state that they 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 Saint Polycarp. They were brothers who were ordained as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, respectively, by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons. They were sent to the area around Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
as missionaries. They are called natives of Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
; Alban Butler
Alban Butler
Alban Butler , English Roman Catholic priest and hagiographer, was born at Appletree, Northamptonshire.He was educated at the English College, Douai, where on his ordination to the priesthood in 1735 he held successively the chairs of philosophy and divinity...
believed that they have been Greeks from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, "but it is more probable that they were natives of Gaul who had studied in Asia Minor and come under Christian influence."
After working as missionaries amongst the Sequani
Sequani
Sequani, in ancient geography, were a Gallic people who occupied the upper river basin of the Arar , the valley of the Doubs and the Jura Mountains, their territory corresponding to Franche-Comté and part of Burgundy.-Etymology:...
for 30 years, in 212, during the persecution of Alexander Severus
Alexander Severus
Severus Alexander was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty...
, they were arrested, tortured and 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...
.
Veneration
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
near Besançon in 370 by a military tribune
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
whose dog was chasing a fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
. The relics were enshrined by Bishop Anianus of Besançon in the 4th century. Saint Gregory of Tours writes that miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s were attributed to their relics in his time; he says that his brother-in-law was cured of a dangerous distemper at the saints' intercession. The Missale Gothicum (ca. 700 AD) contains a full proper of the Mass in their honor. In the sixteenth century, they were invoked in Besançon against sickness, along with Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch.
Ferreolus appears in a catalogue of the 17th century as a bishop of Besançon, but the liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
of Besançon has always remembered Ferreolus as a priest, and Ferrutio as a deacon. Ferreolus and Ferrutio, as patrons of Besançon, are considered to have appeared on the city walls in times of danger. The two saints have been represented in stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
, paintings, and statues
Statues
Statues is a popular children's game, often played in Australia but with versions throughout the world.-General rules:# A person starts out as the "Curator" and stands at the end of a field. Everyone else playing stands at the far end...
in many churches and chapels in the two dioceses of the Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
: Saint-Claude
Saint-Claude
Saint-Claude or St. Claude can refer to:Canada*St. Claude, Manitoba, the largest community in the Rural Municipality of Grey*Saint-Claude, Quebec, a municipality of Le Val-Saint-François, a Municipalité régionale de comté of QuebecFrance...
and Besançon.
The Basilique Saint-Ferjeux is a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
that is situated in the neighborhood of Saint-Ferjeux, Besançon.
They are depicted on a French lantern slide dating from 1900.
External links
- Saints Ferreolus and Ferrutio at Orthodox Europe
- Saint Ferréol et Saint Fargeau
- Diocèse de Besançon
- Santi Ferreolo e Ferruccio from Santi Beati