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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Name

Cornelius, bishop and martyr of Rome, and companion martyrs

Saint ID

S00172

Number in BH

BHL 1958

Reported Death Not Before

243

Reported Death Not After

263

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Martyrs, Bishops
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00344The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, ob. c. 307, S00172), tells of his martyrdom, and his burial in a crypt near the cemetery of Callixtus on the via Appia outside Rome, organised by a pious lady Lucina, on 14 September [AD 253].
E00345The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172), tells how, at the request of a certain Lucina, he removed at night the bodies of the Apostles *Peter and *Paul (S00036 and S00008) from the 'Catacumbas' cemetery on the via Appia outside Rome; how Lucina reburied Paul on her estate on the via Ostiensis, near where he had been beheaded; and how Cornelius reburied Peter on the Vatican hill, near where he had been crucified, amongst the bodies of the holy bishops of Rome, on 29 June [AD 251/253].
E00683The Notitia ecclesiarum urbis Romae, a guide to saints' graves around Rome, lists those on the via Appia, south of the city. Written in Latin in Rome, 625/649.
E01305The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Leo (bishop of Rome, ob. 461, S00423), tells how a certain Demetrias built a basilica of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030) on the via Latina outside Rome; how Leo himself established a monastery at St Peter's, built a basilica to *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172) near the cemetery of Callixtus on the via Appia, carried out a number of repairs at the basilicas of the Apostles *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008) and at the Lateran, and replaced the liturgical vessels of the city's tituli, which had been stolen by the Vandals. It also gives an account of the Council held in the basilica of *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017) at Chalcedon, near Constantinople, and records *Leo's burial in Rome at the basilica of St Peter on 11 April [AD 461].
E02011Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (1.25), mentions several 1st, 2nd, and 3rd c. martyrs, namely *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), *Paul (the Apostle, S00008), *James ('the brother of the Lord', S00058), *Mark (the Evangelist, S00293), *Stephen (the first martyr, S00030), *Clemens/Clement (bishop of Rome, martyr of the Crimea, S00111), *Symeon (bishop and martyr of Jerusalem, S01139), *Ignatios, (bishop of Antioch and martyr of Rome, S00649), *Iustinus (philosopher and martyr of Rome, S01140), *Polycarp (bishop and martyr of Smyrna, S00004), *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172), and *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.
E02489The Latin Martyrdom of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, 00172) narrates Cornelius' arrest and stay in prison in Centumcellae (near Rome); his correspondence with bishop Cyprian of Carthage; his return to Rome, where he performs a healing on Sallustia the wife of Cerealis, and converts them both, along with 21 soldiers; his martyrdom together with the couple and the soldiers, and their burial by a certain Lucina in a crypt near the cemetery of Callixtus on the via Appia. Written presumably in Rome, in the 5th or early 6th c.
E04644Fragmentary Latin epitaph for *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172), naming him a martyr, accompanied by informal visitor inscriptions. Found in the 'crypt of Saint Cornelius' at the Cemetery of Callixtus, via Appia (Rome). Second half of the 3rd c., after 253, or mid-4th c., after 354.
E04646Latin inscription recording the purchase of a tomb (locus) in a burial complex called after *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172). Found probably in the 'crypt of Saint Cornelius,' at the Cemetery of Callixtus, via Appia (Rome). Probably 5th c.
E04648Fragmentary Latin inscription with a poem commemorating the refurbishment of the crypt of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172) by pope Damasus, apparently to make it better accessible to visitors. Found in the 'crypt of Saint Cornelius' at the Cemetery of Callixtus, via Appia (Rome). 366/384.
E04649Very fragmentary Latin inscription in Philocalian script, with probable remnants of a poem. Argued by de Rossi to have commemorated a refurbishment of the crypt of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172) by pope Siricus. Found in the 'crypt of Saint Cornelius' at the Cemetery of Callixtus, via Appia (Rome). Arguably 384/399.
E04951The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 14 September.
E05062The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 23 December.
E05070The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 31 December.
E05618Bede, in his Martyrology, records the feast on 14 September in Rome of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172). Written in Latin at Wearmouth-Jarrow (north-east Britain), 725/731.
E05859The Calendar of Willibrord, in its earliest version, records the feasts of various saints in September. Written in Latin at Echternach, Frisia (north-east Gaul), 703/710.
E06046Mosaics in the nave of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna (northern Italy) depicting twenty-two female saints, preceded by the three Magi, processing towards the Virgin and Child, and twenty-six male saints, probably originally preceded by *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), processing towards Christ; created under Bishop Agnellus, 557/564.
E06589The Latin Gelasian Sacramentary (or Liber Sacramentorum Romanae Ecclesiae), probably compiled around 750 near Paris using earlier material from Rome, records prayers to saints on their feast days in September.
E06788Latin papyrus preserved in Monza (northern Italy) listing the 'oils of the holy martyrs who in body rest in Rome' brought from Rome for Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards, naming many Roman saints. Written at Monza or Rome, 590/604; preserved in its original copy.
E06992The De Locis Sanctis, a guide to the graves of the martyrs around Rome, lists those on the via Appia, south of the city. Written in Latin in Rome, 642/683.
E07892The Itinerarium Malmesburiense, a guide to saints' graves around and within Rome, lists those outside the porta Appia on the via Appia, south of the city. Written in Latin in Rome, 642/683.
E07905Jerome, in his On illustrious men, states that *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172) and *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411) died on the same day, although not the same year. Written in Latin in Bethlehem (Palestine), 392/393.
E08222The Gothic Missal compiles liturgical texts for the celebration of saints' feasts throughout the year. Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710. Overview entry.
E08245The Gothic Missal includes prayers for the celebration of mass on the shared feast day of *Cornelius (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00172) and *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411). Written in Latin in Gaul, perhaps at Luxeuil for the Christian community of Autun, c. 680/710.