Nicasius, Quirinus, Scubiculus, and Pientia
Encyclopedia
Nicasius, Quirinus, Scubiculus, and Pientia were venerated as martyr
s and saint
s. Their feast day is October 11. Their historicity is uncertain, and "no trustworthy historical reports of [them] exist."
Nicasius has been identified with Nicasius of Rheims
, and there are many saints with the name of Saint Quirinus
.
to evangelize Gaul
in the first century. Nicasius thus may have been a regionary bishop. Quirinus is stated to have been his priest
while his deacon was Scubiculus (who is known as Egobille in France
). According to the legend he was put to death, together with Nicasius, in the pagus Vulcassinus (Vexin
).
One variant of the legend states that Quirinus, Nicasius, and the deacon Scubiculus were sent to Gaul
by Pope Clement
, accompanying Saint Denis
there. At Vaux-sur-Seine
, Quirinus fought and defeated a dragon
, which had lay waste to the area and poisoned a well.
Quirinus and his companions were later imprisoned by soldiers of the emperor Domitian
, and were then beheaded
. The following night, the beheaded saints picked up their own heads
and walked to an island on the river Epte
, where they were buried by a lady named Pientia and a priest named Clarus.
Quirinus’ relics were translated
around 875 to the abbey church of Malmedy
during the reign of Charles the Bald
, and Malmedy became the center of his cult. Thus, he is sometimes venerated separately as St. Quirinus of Malmedy, and gained much more importance than his alleged companions Nicasius and Scubiculus. Quirinus' relics were officially confirmed as authentic by Abbot Poppo of Stavelot.
Malmedy had been a branch of Stavelot
, but between 1065 and 1071 became independent from this monastery. As a result, it needed as a strong heavenly intercessor as its patron saint in order to compete with Stavelot’s: Saint Remaclus. Malmedy thus devised Quirinus’ legend, which was copied from other hagiographies and incorporating common tropes
(fighting a dragon, cephalophoric elements, etc.), as well as elements from the lives of other saints of the same name
.
Quirinus came to be invoked against drought
, fever, bad weather, and demons, and farmers of the Münsterland
invoked his aid against diseases affecting their cattle
. Quirinus’ popularity is evidenced by the number of surnames in Central and Western Europe derived from his name, which include Quirini, Querings, Kehry, Kiry, Kuhrig, Koenrig, Crines, Krines, Krings, Kreugs, Cryns, Creins, Kreins, Krainz, Kircher, Kreine and Grein.
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 saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s. Their feast day is October 11. Their historicity is uncertain, and "no trustworthy historical reports of [them] exist."
Nicasius has been identified with Nicasius of Rheims
Nicasius of Rheims
Saint Nicasius of Rheims was a bishop of Rheims from 400 until his death. He founded the first cathedral of Rheims. He prophesied the invasion of France by the Vandals....
, and there are many saints with the name of Saint Quirinus
Saint Quirinus
Saint Quirinus may refer to:* Quirinus of Neuss * Quirinus of Rome , also known as 'Quirinus of Tegernsee', relics at Tegernsee Abbey.* Quirinus of Sescia...
.
Legends
One legend states that they died in 285 AD and that Nicasius was one of the first missionaries sent from RomeRome
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...
to evangelize Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
in the first century. Nicasius thus may have been a regionary bishop. Quirinus is stated to have been his 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...
while his deacon was Scubiculus (who is known as Egobille in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). According to the legend he was put to death, together with Nicasius, in the pagus Vulcassinus (Vexin
Vexin
The Vexin is a historical county of northwestern France. It covers a verdant plateau on the right bank of the Seine comprising an area east-to-west between Pontoise and Romilly-sur-Andelle , and north-to-south between Auneuil and the Seine near Vernon...
).
One variant of the legend states that Quirinus, Nicasius, and the deacon Scubiculus were sent to Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
by Pope Clement
Pope Clement
There have been fourteen popes named Clement.*Pope Clement I saint, *Pope Clement II *Pope Clement III *Pope Clement IV...
, accompanying Saint Denis
Denis
Saint Denis is a Christian martyr and saint. In the third century, he was Bishop of Paris. He was martyred in connection with the Decian persecution of Christians, shortly after A.D. 250...
there. At Vaux-sur-Seine
Vaux-sur-Seine
Vaux-sur-Seine is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.-References:*...
, Quirinus fought and defeated a dragon
Saint George and the Dragon
The episode of Saint George and the Dragon appended to the hagiography of Saint George was Eastern in origin, brought back with the Crusaders and retold with the courtly appurtenances belonging to the genre of Romance...
, which had lay waste to the area and poisoned a well.
Quirinus and his companions were later imprisoned by soldiers of the emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
, and were 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...
. The following night, the beheaded saints picked up their own heads
Cephalophore
A cephalophore is a saint who is generally depicted carrying his or her own head; in art, this was usually meant to signify that the subject in question had been martyred by beheading....
and walked to an island on the river Epte
Epte
The Epte is a river in Seine-Maritime and Eure, in Normandy, France. It is a right tributary of the Seine.The river rises in Seine-Maritime in the Pays de Bray, near Forges-les-Eaux...
, where they were buried by a lady named Pientia and a priest named Clarus.
Veneration
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
around 875 to the abbey church of Malmedy
Malmedy
Malmedy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region, Province of Liège. It belongs to the French Community of Belgium, within which it is French-speaking with facilities for German-speakers. On January 1, 2006 Malmedy had a total population of 11,829...
during the reign of Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
, and Malmedy became the center of his cult. Thus, he is sometimes venerated separately as St. Quirinus of Malmedy, and gained much more importance than his alleged companions Nicasius and Scubiculus. Quirinus' relics were officially confirmed as authentic by Abbot Poppo of Stavelot.
Malmedy had been a branch of Stavelot
Stavelot
Stavelot is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Stavelot had a total population of 6,671. The total area is 85.07 km² which gives a population density of 78 inhabitants per km².-History:...
, but between 1065 and 1071 became independent from this monastery. As a result, it needed as a strong heavenly intercessor as its patron saint in order to compete with Stavelot’s: Saint Remaclus. Malmedy thus devised Quirinus’ legend, which was copied from other hagiographies and incorporating common tropes
Trope (literature)
A literary trope is the usage of figurative language in literature, or a figure of speech in which words are used in a sense different from their literal meaning...
(fighting a dragon, cephalophoric elements, etc.), as well as elements from the lives of other saints of the same name
Saint Quirinus
Saint Quirinus may refer to:* Quirinus of Neuss * Quirinus of Rome , also known as 'Quirinus of Tegernsee', relics at Tegernsee Abbey.* Quirinus of Sescia...
.
Quirinus came to be invoked against drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, fever, bad weather, and demons, and farmers of the Münsterland
Münster (region)
Münster is one of the five Regierungsbezirke of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the north of the state, and named after the city of Münster. It includes the area which in medieval times was known as the Dreingau....
invoked his aid against diseases affecting their cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. Quirinus’ popularity is evidenced by the number of surnames in Central and Western Europe derived from his name, which include Quirini, Querings, Kehry, Kiry, Kuhrig, Koenrig, Crines, Krines, Krings, Kreugs, Cryns, Creins, Kreins, Krainz, Kircher, Kreine and Grein.