The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Martyrdom of Nazarius and Celsus (BHL 6039 and BHL 6043)

We here provide summaries of the two earliest Latin versions: BHL 6039, thought to be the earliest, and BHL 6043, translated from the Greek and the source of a number of later versions (see our discussion).


BHL 6039

Summary:

Prologue promoting the diffusion of the martyrs’ deeds for the good of the Church and of the faithful, and introducing Nazarius as a most famous martyr, preacher, and miracle-worker, following in the footsteps of the Apostles.

Nazarius is of noble birth, the son of Africanus, an African (aphrus), and Perpetua, a Roman citizen from a noble family and baptised by the apostle Peter in Rome after the defeat of Simon [Magus]. At the age of nine, Nazarius is instructed by his mother in the observance of the divine law, but he sees that his father does not follow this religion, although he says that he venerates the almighty God. Thus Nazarius hesitates between being baptised, following Peter’s preaching, or following his father in observing the Sabbath. He prays to God, and the Holy Spirit is with him. He studies every day the Roman discipline (disciplina romana), and as he makes progress in speech and wisdom, his father hopes that he may adhere to his religion in Rome.

Nazarius’ mother regularly prays to Jesus Christ in the place where she was baptised, while his father observes the Sabbath. One day he sees that among the young in the city of Rome, his son particularly excels in letters. He rejoices and tells him that he will introduce him to the mystery of his religion (mysterium religionis meae) and that he will earn a prominent position, teaching his religion in Rome. A few days later Nazarius tells his mother about his father’s offer: she exhorts him to be baptised by Peter, and instructs him about the Lord. Nazarius’ faith starts to grow. His father hopes to bring him to follow his religion and some days later he asks his wife to give him their son, so that he can instruct him. Perpetua however replies that God will show him the way. Africanus convinces his son to follow him, but after some time, Nazarius starts to doubt and wonder whether his mother was right. Africanus fears that Nazarius may want to adore pagan gods and tells him about pagans in Rome and their practices. Nazarius however replies by teaching Africanus about God the creator of all things and ends by asking him to be granted permission to be baptised by the apostle Peter, who had baptised his mother.

Africanus is frightened, he tries to convince his son not to adhere to Christianity; he hopes that he will be raised in his religion, marry and have children. He tells Nazarius that the Senate has not accepted the teaching of Christians and that the emperor has ordered all those who adhere to this religion to be killed with various tortures. However, Africanus fails to convince his son and at last gives him permission to seek baptism. Nazarius goes to his mother and tells her everything. At that time, Linus was bishop of Rome, succeeding to the Apostle Peter. Nazarius asks for baptism, he is baptised and then instructed by the bishop.

After his baptism, Nazarius is eager to reject the idols and starts preaching openly against them. Soon, news spreads of his hostile attitude towards the temples and the gods; his parents fear that he might be killed, while he rejoices. However, feeling pity for his parents, he asks them to give him part of his inheritance so that he may leave the city to escape death. His parents rejoice and give him seven beasts of burden with a great quantity of gold and silver. Nazarius leaves the city, giving his wealth away as alms. He travels throughout Italy, exhorting people to be baptised and reject idols. Many believe and are baptised.

After ten years, he arrives in Piacenza (civitas placentina), and a few days later in Milan. Looking for other Christians in the city, he learns about the confessors Protasius and Gervasius, who are imprisoned by Anulinus and who perform many miracles. Nazarius becomes one of their companions (consors et socius) by preaching about Christ and perseverance in suffering. Soon he cannot hide any more and he is brought to the governor (praeses) of Italy Anulinus to be interrogated. Nazarius speaks against the idols; Anulinus orders him to be beaten and thrown out of the city. Full of joy, Nazarius travels from place to place, preaching against the idols. The same night, he dreams of his mother Perpetua, telling him to reach Gaul and preach the Gospel there.

Nazarius reaches Cimiez (Cimellus) in Gaul, preaching and baptising many people. A woman of noble birth, who has been converted by Nazarius, entrusts him with her son Celsus. The boy is baptised and fully instructed, and follows Nazarius in his travels. The governor of Gaul Denovaus summons Nazarius and interrogates him. Nazarius tells him who he is and for what purpose he has reached Gaul, and tries to convince the governor to abandon the idols. Denovaus sends him chained to prison, together with the boy. The next day as they are about to be brought to court to be judged, the whole city assembles and Denovaus is compelled to release them. Nazarius starts converting people in the vicinity: like a wise farmer, he harvests grain and stores it in the granary of the Lord. Nazarius converts many people in the city of Trier (treveris civitas).

The vicar (vicarius) Cornelius, learning that Nazarius has converted a great portion of the inhabitants of the city to Christianity, does not dare to try anything against Nazarius, but sends a report (relatio) to the emperor Nero, asking for help [the full report, with the address to Nero, is given]. After receiving the report, Nero sends the soldier Dento to arrest Nazarius and bring him to his court in order to be punished. Dento finds Nazarius in an oratory that he had consecrated, and brings him, with Celsus, to Nero, beating him on the way; Celsus follows him, crying. Nazarius is sent to prison; he rejoices and chants Psalm 70:1. Dento receives a golden talent, while Nazarius, on his way to prison, preaches about Christ to the soldiers leading him, but they beat him in the mouth and face and shut him up in prison. An angel comes and comforts him. At that time, Nero sends hunters into the neighbouring mountains, but the wild beasts come down, and attack Nero and his soldiers: many are killed and Nero is wounded in the foot. It is fitting for those who sacrifice to unclean demons to be torn into pieces by wild beasts. Nero thinks that the gods are angered because he has not quickly killed Nazarius.

Nazarius and Celsus are taken out of prison and beaten. A soldier falls and loses an eye; his face shines, white as snow. All those who see this are amazed by God’s quick vengeance. Nero asks Nazarius to abandon magic and sacrifice to the gods to avoid death; he thinks that the gods sent wild beasts because they were angered. Nazarius tells him that he is wrong, the gods have no power. He preaches against the idols and exhorts Nero to convert to Christianity. Nero tells him that if he does not sacrifice to the idols he will be thrown in the sea. As they bring him to idols to compel him to sacrifice, Nazarius prays to God, asking Him to send an angel to destroy the idols to demonstrate that He is the only God. The earth shakes and the idols are completely destroyed. Nero learns that Nazarius has destroyed the idols and orders him to be sent to prison.

The next day Nero comes to the ‘port of the sea' (ad portum maris), where there are many boats. Nazarius is taken out of prison. Nero threatens Nazarius but he does not yield, again preaching against the idols. Then Nero tells shipmasters to take Nazarius out to sea on a boat and let him drown. If he manages to come back to the shore thanks to magic, they should burn him alive and throw his ashes in the sea. Nero promises them many riches and honours. Nazarius and the boy Celsus are put on the boat, they sign themselves with the cross and fall asleep. When they are far enough from the shore, they are thrown in the sea.

A great light shines over them and they are surrounded by a sort of cloud. An angel of the Lord comes down to them, shows them the testament of the Lord and comforts them. The sea becomes calm and Nazarius and the boy walk over the water praising the Lord. The boat however is broken and about to sink in the middle of a tempest, the sailors recognize that they have sinned against the god of Nazarius and that their gods cannot help them. They ask Nazarius to free them; Nazarius requires that they believe and abandon the gods; they proclaim their faith. Nazarius enters the boat, which is instantly repaired, and they reach the city of Genoa. The sailors receive baptism and return to sea. Nazarius and the boy enter the city, and preach the word of the Lord night and day, baptising many people. Nazarius comes to Milan and seeks Protasius and Gervasius, he learns that they have persevered.

Anulinus hears about Nazarius and tells his soldiers to send him into exile. Nazarius entrusts Celsus to a Christian woman, before being thrown out of the city. Anulinus writes to Nero telling him about Nazarius, who is a companion of those whom he keeps in prison [the text of Anulinus’ letter is given in full, with the address to Nero]. Receiving the news, Nero tries to find the sailors, without success; he writes back to Anulinus ordering him to behead the Christians and leave their bodies unburied, to be eaten by birds.

Nazarius then reaches Rome and meets his old father in his home, who has become a Christian. His father tells him that in a vision he has been instructed by the Apostle Peter and has asked for baptism. Nazarius then preaches about Christianity in Rome. The priests of the Capitol incite the crowd to beat Nazarius and throw him out of the city. They take him, learn that he has been sent out of Milan into exile, and after insulting him they let him go away. Nazarius comes back to Milan, takes the boy back, and preaches the word of God. The pagan crowd goes to the governor and tells him that Nazarius has come back and is preaching against the idols. They ask him to either punish Nazarius or hand him to the emperor to be killed. Anulinus tells soldiers to arrest Nazarius and the boy and bring them to court. When they are brought to him, he tells them that he has the power to punish them with death, if they refuse to sacrifice. Nazarius refuses to adore idols and quotes Psalm 97:7 against this practice. Anulinus orders them to be brought outside the city, out of the gate named porta romana to a place called ‘Three Mulberry-trees’ (tres moros) and to be secretly beheaded, to avoid a popular revolt, since they were now considered worshippers of the true God because of the miracles performed. As they leave the city, they chant Psalm 119:14. When they arrive, they pray; they are beheaded and their bodies are left there.

At night, religious men (religiosi viri) come, take their bodies, embalm them in the same place and bury them in their own gardens (horti). At that time, the saints appear to a certain Ceratius, who has received their bodies in his home and tell him to hide them because of Nero and his assistants. He should not tell his friends that Nazarius and the boy Celsus are buried in his house. Ceratius asks them to heal his only daughter who is paralytic. They exhort him to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and she will be healed. Ceratius leaves his home to meet his daughter and finds her healed. He thanks the Lord, who healed her thanks to the merits of the holy martyrs (merita sanctorum martyrum). Ceratius, his wife and daughter do all required by the saints in the vision. The whole household adores the Lord Jesus Christ and they give thanks to Him for seeing and having the holy martyrs, disciples of Peter, with them.

A certain philosopher followed Nazarius from the beginning, wrote a book (libellus) about his struggle and kept it hidden. Advised in a vision, he gave the writing (scriptura) to Ceratius, who had buried the precious bodies. And, as had been ordered by the martyrs to Ceratius, the book was placed next to the heads of the saints, and their bodies remained hidden until the day of their invention (revelatio). Anulinus tried to find the relics of their bodies (reliquiae eorum corporum), fearing that they might resurrect, perform miracles, and thus trouble the city. However, God did not permit it.

Later, God reveals the bodies to the bishop and confessor Ambrose of Milan, who, at the time of Theodosius, with all the people, finds the body of the martyr Nazarius, fragrant and as if it had just been buried. They leave Celsus in the same place, but Nazarius, still intact with hair and beard, they bring to the basilica apostolorum at the porta romana and bury there. The tomb is visited frequently, since many miracles took place when the body was transferred: the blind received the light, the lame walked, those possessed by demons since birth were purified. This happens up to this day in the place where the body is kept: there, many are healed.

Text: Mombritius (1910), II, 326-334. Summary: M. Pignot.


BHL 6043

§ 1: Under Nero, Nazarius, a Christian, preaches against the idols. An assistant of Nero, Cornelius, sends a report to Nero, in order to punish Nazarius.

§ 2: Nero sends the soldier Dento to find Nazarius. Dento finds him in the city of Embrun (Ebredunum) where he is building an oratory overlooking the East. The child Celsius [sic], who is counting stones, is also there. Dento arrests Nazarius and, beating him, leads him to Nero; Celsius follows, crying.

§ 3: Nero gives a golden talent to Dento and orders Nazarius to be sent to prison. On his way, Nazarius tells soldiers that his king will give him life and immortality while theirs will give them death and darkness. They crush his mouth and shut him up in prison. Three days later Nero wants to kill Nazarius; a voice is heard from heaven comforting Nazarius and telling him Nero will be defeated. Nero sends hunters into the high mountains of Gaul to catch various types of beasts. The hunters cannot find the beasts: the Lord of Nazarius has sent them into the garden of Nero, where they kill Nero’s concubines and soldiers. Nero is wounded in the foot. Nazarius is aware of what happens, he tells the boy Celsius that he will be entrusted to a widow. Nero thinks that the gods have sent the beasts to kill all his relatives because of Nazarius.

§ 4: Two months later, Nero is full of sorrow, Nazarius rejoices, soldiers guard his cell. Then they take Nazarius and the boy; on the way, Nazarius entrusts Celsius to a woman, presenting her as Celsius' mother and telling the woman to be ready to send the boy when required. One of the soldiers beats the boy, Nazarius tells him that he is inhuman. Nazarius is brought to Nero and beaten on the way. Nazarius blows on the face of a soldier, who loses his right eye, falling on a rock. As they reach Nero, the emperor’s face becomes dark, while Nazarius’ face shines like the sun. The executioners acknowledge the power of Nazarius’ god. Nero tells Nazarius that the beasts were sent by the gods because of him. Nazarius replies that beasts are better than Nero’s gods, since they killed following God’s command. Nazarius also tells Nero that he knew what happened because God told him. Nero orders Nazarius to be sent to the altars to sacrifice to the gods. There, Nazarius asks to be left alone for a while, and prays to God asking to be freed from demons and protected. Then Nero orders him to be sent to prison and thrown out of that land the next day. Nazarius asks for the boy to be sent to him; they bring the boy who kisses Nazarius’ feet, while Nazarius kisses Celsius’ head.

§ 5: At the port of the sea (ad portum maris), Nero asks Nazarius to leave. Nazarius replies that God has power over all things, he rejects the gods and recalls his baptism. Nero tells a shipmaster to put Nazarius on a boat and throw him in the sea. They throw him into the middle of the sea with the child.

§ 6: A great light shines and Nazarius receives the power of the Holy Spirit. An angel shows Nazarius the testament of God. The Lord looks inside Nazarius’ soul, and sends a great tempest from the abyss. The sailors are afraid, they recognise their sins against the god of Nazarius. Nazarius’ appears to them as a dolphin (delfinus) and the sea becomes calm. The sailors see the holy Nazarius and ask him to come into the boat and save them, promising not to go back to Nero but to lead him to the port of his choice. They have heard that he is an aristocrat from Rome, and they exhort him to return to his family. The holy Nazarius enters the boat with the child and asks them to believe and reject the idols; they proclaim their faith. They are initiated, adhere to Nazarius’ teaching (catecizati autem et credentes doctrinae Nazarii) and are on their way, protected by the grace of God.

§ 7: When they come to the city of Genoa, the boy is dead. Nazarius prays to the Lord to know whether he is really dead or still alive. A voice tells him that the boy will resurrect. At the ninth hour, the boy stands up and greets Nazarius. He tells him that he went to the place of the worthy (loco iustorum) and saw him at the seat of God being told about immortal life. Nazarius rejoices and kisses Celsius on the head, and Celsius kisses Nazarius’ feet. They stay for the night in the city and the next day they leave; on the third day they are in Milan. Nazarius preaches against the idols and exhorts people to baptism. Many believe. Nazarius seeks the confessors Gervasius and Protasius whom he had left in prison and finds that they have persevered.

§ 8: Anulinus learns of Nazarius’ presence and writes to Nero to tell him that he has found Nazarius in his city creating trouble and preaching against the idols, and that he has sent him into exile, now waiting for instructions [the text of the letter is given with the address to Nero]. Nero receives the letter, fails to find the sailors whom he wants to kill, and tells Anulinus to behead the Christians and leave their flesh to birds. After the sentence has been pronounced, Nazarius enters the city of Milan at night.

§ 9: Anulinus finds Nazarius and tells him that Nero has ordered him and Gervasius, Protasius and Celsius to be beheaded and their flesh left to the birds. Nazarius says that God is just and will bring them to reign with the worthy. He rejects the idols. Anulinus sentences them to death; Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and the boy Celsius are secretly beheaded and their bodies left unburied; indeed they were now widely seen as worshippers of God, thanks to the miracles performed.

§ 10: Their bodies are stolen and deposited outside the city, outside the gate named porta Romana. The same night they appear to Cyrasius, who had taken their bodies, and tell him to prepare a meal to celebrate the joy coming to his house, and to hide the bodies in the earth, against Nero. They also ask him not to tell his friends in every city of Italy that he has the bodies of Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and the boy Celsius. Cyrasius asks them to heal his only daughter who is paralytic. They tell him that his prayer will be granted. He hides them, then sees his daughter running to the tomb of the martyrs (memoria sanctorum martyrum). He tells all the wonders to his wife Fortunata, and, doing all things as requested by the saints, the whole household adores God, asks for His protection and thanks Him for seeing and having the saints, disciples of Peter. The holy martyrs (sancti martyres) were consecrated (consecrati) in the city of Milan in the place called 'Three Walls' (Tres Muros), the day of the ides of December (13 December).

§ 11: A certain philosopher followed Nazarius from the beginning, wrote about his martyrdom (martyrium) and kept it. Advised by the saints in his sleep, he gave the book (librum) to the holy Cyrasius, who deposited it with the bodies until the day when God would reveal the bodies. Cyrasius placed the book next to the heads of the saints. At that time, God avenges the saints: Nero loses his right foot and dies, Denobaus and Anulinus are choked by demons, as they are looking for the relics of the martyrs (reliquiae sanctorum) to prevent them from resurrecting and performing miracles. At the time of the prefect Agrippa, there are famines and plagues, the saints appear and help many people. God is glorified through the holy martyrs.

§ 12: In our time, God reveals the saints to the most blessed bishop and confessor Ambrose of Milan, in the reign of Theodosius of most merciful memory. Coming with all the people to the place that has been announced to him, he finds the holy martyrs in three little tombs (locelli) with the boy Celsius. God performs many wonders as they are brought into the city of Milan by a great chanting crowd. The blind see, the lame walk, those possessed by demons since birth are purified.


Text: Lanéry 2010, 269-280.
Summary: M. Pignot.

Chant and religious singing
Ceremony of dedication

Cult building - independent (church)
Burial site of a saint - other
Martyr shrine (martyrion, bet sāhedwātā, etc.)

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Distribution of alms
Renovation and embellishment of cult buildings
Composing and translating saint-related texts

Miracle during lifetime
Miracle after death
Miracles experienced by the saint
Punishing miracle
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Healing diseases and disabilities
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Exorcism
Saint aiding or preventing the translation of relics

Bodily relic - entire body
Bodily relic - nails, hair and bodily products
Discovering, finding, invention and gathering of relics
Division of relics
Privately owned relics

Women
Children
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Jews
Pagans
Relatives of the saint
Monarchs and their family
Animals
Officials
Other lay individuals/ people
Crowds
Angels
Torturers/Executioners

Considerations about the veneration of saints
Considerations about the hierarchy of saints

Source

Discussion

Bibliography