Saints Gervasius and Protasius
Two Milanese martyrs whose relics Saint Ambrose found in 386
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr
- Feast
- 19 June
- Countries
- Italy
Life story
What is secure about them comes from Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who wrote a letter describing the discovery of their relics in 386, when he had just built a new basilica. The people asked him to consecrate it as had been done in Rome, which required relics of martyrs.
According to the account, Ambrose had a dream and ordered excavation at the cemetery church of Saints Nabor and Felix outside the city, where bones were found. He carried the relics in public procession to his basilica. Augustine, reports in the Confessions, Book IX, that a blind man was healed as the relics were moved; this is a contemporary eyewitness account. Ambrose was later buried beside the martyrs.
Most of their life story is legend. The acta describe them as twin sons of the martyrs Vitalis and Valeria, imprisoned, scourged and beheaded. It is unknown when this text was written, and the Catholic Encyclopedia says only that they died as martyrs, probably in the second century.
In 835 Bishop Angilbert II placed the relics of the two saints and of Ambrose in a porphyry sarcophagus, which was found again in 1864. The Latin Church keeps their feast on 19 June, the day of the translation.
Works and witness
- Relics found by Ambrose in 386 and carried into the Milan basilica
- Mentioned by Augustine in the Confessions, Book IX
- Placed in a porphyry sarcophagus in 835, found again in 1864
- Feast on 19 June
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent), Sts. Gervasius and Protasius (newadvent.org/cathen/06537a.htm)
- Ambrose, Letter 22 (New Advent, Church Fathers)
- Augustine, Confessions IX (New Advent, Church Fathers)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.