Proculus of Pozzuoli
Encyclopedia
Saint Proculus of Pozzuoli was martyr
ed around 305 AD, at the same time as Saint Januarius.
He was martyred with:
These seven martyrs are first mentioned in relation to the life of Saint Januarius. The martyrs’ relics were translated
at various times and to various destinations. Early documents, including the Atti Puteolani and the Acta s. Proculi were kept at the Archivio della Curia of Pozzuoli
before being published for the first time in 1867 at Paris
by the Jesuit Bollandist
Stilting.
In addition, the Atti Bolognesi, conserved in a codex
dating from 1180, also provides information about these martyrs; this codex was kept at the Celestine
monastery
of San Stefano at Bologna
. The codex contains the legend of Proculus, based on earlier accounts dating from at least the seventh century.
, Januarius, bishop of Benevento
, escaped from his see and traveled to Pozzuoli "incognito." However, his presence became known to Christians in the area, and Januarius maintained contact with a deacon of Miseno, Sossius, as well as the deacon Festus and the lector Desiderius.
Sossius was soon discovered to be a Christian by the local authorities and he was condemned by the judge Dragontius, who condemned him to be killed by wild bears in the local amphitheater
. Januarius, Festus, and Desiderius, on hearing of Sossius’ arrest, took a risk and visited him in prison at the sulphur mines of Pozzuoli, near the volcano of Solfatara
.
The authorities discovered that these men were also Christians and they were thrown to the wild beasts as well, but as one modern account states, "...when the animals came near the Saints, they fell affectionately at their feet and refused to harm them.". They were then condemned to be beheaded
, along with Sossius.
The deacon Proculus and the laymen Eutyches and Acutius protested this sentence while the other men were being led to their execution. As a result, these three were also decapitated with the others near the Solfatara, on September 19, 305.
The bodies of Festus and Desiderius were buried outside Benevento
, then translated to the cathedral of that city before being buried in the abbey of Montevergine
.
The relics of Sossius were buried at Miseno. When Miseno was destroyed in the 9th century, his relics were moved to Naples and then in 1807 taken to the city of Frattamaggiore
, and became a patron saint of that city. There is a church dedicated to him at Miseno. Saint-Sozy
, in France, takes its name from Sossius.
The relics of Eutyches and Acutius were kept at the praetorium Falcidii near the Paleochristian basilica of San Stefano in Puzzuoli. In the second half of the eighth century, they were placed in Naples Cathedral, under the high altar
of the cathedral at Naples with the relics of Agrippinus
, a bishop of Naples.
According to a ninth century document believed by one scholar to be a fictitious account, the bodies of Januarius, Proculus, Eutyches, and Acutius were transported in 871 to Reichenau Island
by a Swabia
n knight. The relics were subject to various inspections throughout the centuries, and in 1964, the bones at Reichenau were determined to be fake and not associated with these Italian martyrs.
Desiderius and Acutius are depicted in a 9th century fresco
in the Catacombs of San Gennaro
, in Naples.
. The townspeople also celebrated his feast on the second Sunday in May.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed around 305 AD, at the same time as Saint Januarius.
He was martyred with:
- SossiusSossiusSaint Sossius or Sosius was Deacon of Misenum, an important naval base of the Roman Empire in the Bay of Naples. He was martyred along with Saint Januarius at Pozzuoli during the Diocletian Persecutions...
or Sosius, deaconDeaconDeacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
of MisenoMisenoMiseno is one of the frazioni of the municipality of Bacoli in the Italian Province of Naples. Known in ancient times as Misenum, it is the site of an ancient port in Campania, in southern Italy.-History:...
- Festus, lectorLectorLector is a Latin term for one who reads, whether aloud or not. In modern languages the word has come to take various forms, as either a development or a loan, such as , , and . It has various specialized uses:...
- Desiderius, lector
- Acutius, layman
- Eutyches (Eutychius), layman
- Artemas of Pozzuoli
- Gantiol
These seven martyrs are first mentioned in relation to the life of Saint Januarius. The martyrs’ relics were translated
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...
at various times and to various destinations. Early documents, including the Atti Puteolani and the Acta s. Proculi were kept at the Archivio della Curia of Pozzuoli
Pozzuoli
Pozzuoli is a city and comune of the province of Naples, in the Italian region of Campania. It is the main city of the Phlegrean peninsula.-History:Pozzuoli began as the Greek colony of Dicaearchia...
before being published for the first time in 1867 at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by the Jesuit Bollandist
Bollandist
The Bollandists are an association of scholars, philologists, and historians who since the early seventeenth century have studied hagiography and the cult of the saints in Christianity. Their most important publication has been the Acta Sanctorum...
Stilting.
In addition, the Atti Bolognesi, conserved in a codex
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
dating from 1180, also provides information about these martyrs; this codex was kept at the Celestine
Celestines
Celestines are a Roman Catholic monastic order, a branch of the Benedictines, founded in 1244. At the foundation of the new rule, they were called Hermits of St Damiano, or Moronites , and did not assume the appellation of Celestines until after the election of their founder to the Papacy as...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of San Stefano at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
. The codex contains the legend of Proculus, based on earlier accounts dating from at least the seventh century.
Legend
The legend conserved in the Atti Bolognesi states that during the persecutions carried out by DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
, Januarius, bishop of Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, escaped from his see and traveled to Pozzuoli "incognito." However, his presence became known to Christians in the area, and Januarius maintained contact with a deacon of Miseno, Sossius, as well as the deacon Festus and the lector Desiderius.
Sossius was soon discovered to be a Christian by the local authorities and he was condemned by the judge Dragontius, who condemned him to be killed by wild bears in the local amphitheater
Flavian Amphitheater (Pozzuoli)
The Flavian Amphitheater , located in Pozzuoli, is the third largest Roman amphitheater in Italy. Only the Roman Colosseum and the Capuan Amphitheater are larger. It was likely built by the same architects who previously constructed the Roman Colosseum...
. Januarius, Festus, and Desiderius, on hearing of Sossius’ arrest, took a risk and visited him in prison at the sulphur mines of Pozzuoli, near the volcano of Solfatara
Solfatara (volcano)
Solfatara is a shallow volcanic crater at Pozzuoli, near Naples, part of the Campi Flegrei volcanic area. It is a dormant volcano, which still emits jets of steam with sulphurous fumes. The name comes from the Latin, Sulpha terra, "land of sulphur", or "sulfur earth"...
.
The authorities discovered that these men were also Christians and they were thrown to the wild beasts as well, but as one modern account states, "...when the animals came near the Saints, they fell affectionately at their feet and refused to harm them.". They were then condemned to be 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...
, along with Sossius.
The deacon Proculus and the laymen Eutyches and Acutius protested this sentence while the other men were being led to their execution. As a result, these three were also decapitated with the others near the Solfatara, on September 19, 305.
Veneration
The relics of Proculus were first buried in the Calpurnian temple, which was later converted into the cathedral of Pozzuoli.The bodies of Festus and Desiderius were buried outside Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, then translated to the cathedral of that city before being buried in the abbey of Montevergine
Montevergine
thumb|250px|The Sanctuary of Montevergine.The Montevergine, also known as Partenio or Monti di Avella, is a limestone massif in Campania, central Italy, part of the Apennine chain. It is located near Avellino, in the comune of Mercogliano...
.
The relics of Sossius were buried at Miseno. When Miseno was destroyed in the 9th century, his relics were moved to Naples and then in 1807 taken to the city of Frattamaggiore
Frattamaggiore
-Geography:It is located in the Afragola hinterland. At the 2001 census the municipality had a population of 32,731 inhabitants and a land area of 5.32 km² . It is bordered by Afragola, Cardito, Crispano, Frattaminore, Grumo Nevano, and Sant'Arpino....
, and became a patron saint of that city. There is a church dedicated to him at Miseno. Saint-Sozy
Saint-Sozy
Saint-Sozy is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.The town is known for its production of foie gras , nuts, and tobacco....
, in France, takes its name from Sossius.
The relics of Eutyches and Acutius were kept at the praetorium Falcidii near the Paleochristian basilica of San Stefano in Puzzuoli. In the second half of the eighth century, they were placed in Naples Cathedral, under the high altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
of the cathedral at Naples with the relics of Agrippinus
Agrippinus of Naples
Saint Agrippinus of Naples was a bishop of Naples and is venerated in that city as a saint. According to tradition, Agrippinus was the sixth bishop of Naples...
, a bishop of Naples.
According to a ninth century document believed by one scholar to be a fictitious account, the bodies of Januarius, Proculus, Eutyches, and Acutius were transported in 871 to Reichenau Island
Reichenau Island
Reichenau Island lies in Lake Constance in southern Germany, at approximately . It lies between Gnadensee and Untersee, two parts of Lake Constance, almost due west of the city of Konstanz. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway that was completed in 1838...
by a Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
n knight. The relics were subject to various inspections throughout the centuries, and in 1964, the bones at Reichenau were determined to be fake and not associated with these Italian martyrs.
Desiderius and Acutius are depicted in a 9th century fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
in the Catacombs of San Gennaro
Catacombs of San Gennaro
The Catacombs of San Gennaro are underground paleo-Christian burial sites in Naples, Italy. They are situated in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte...
, in Naples.
Feast days
Ancient dates in the Roman Martyrology are as follows: the feast day for the whole group was formerly September 19, the same feast day as for Januarius; Festus and Desiderius were celebrated on September 7; Sossius on September 23; Proculus, Eutyches, and Acutius, on October 18. November 16 was the official feast day for Saint Proculus at Pozzuoli. St. Proculus was affectionately nicknamed u pisciasotto ("the pants-pisser") because November 16 was often a day of rainRain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
. The townspeople also celebrated his feast on the second Sunday in May.