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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


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


Name

Gervasius and Protasius, brothers and martyrs of Milan

Saint ID

S00313

Number in BH

BHL 3513-3522

Reported Death Not Before

64

Reported Death Not After

313

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Martyrs, Groups and pairs of saints
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00367Gregory of Tours writes the Glory of the Martyrs (Liber in Gloria Martyrum), in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594. Overview entry.
E00544Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (46), narrates the discovery of the bodies of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) by Bishop Ambrose, the construction of their church there, and the distribution of relics of their blood all over Italy and Gaul (including Tours); an explanation is offered for the large quantity of blood distributed. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00726Victricius of Rouen lists the relics of saints already present in Rouen: *John the Baptist (S00020), the Apostles *Andrew (S00289) and *Thomas (S00199), *Gervasius and Protasius (bothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), *Agricola (martyr of Bologna, S00310), *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017), and *Luke (the Evangelist, S00442). Account in Victricius' Praising the Saints, written in Latin, c.396 in Rouen (northern Gaul).
E00904Paulinus of Milan's Life of *Ambrose (bishop of Milan, ob. 397, S00490) relates how Ambrose discovered the bodies of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) close to those of *Nabor and Felix (brothers, soldiers and martyrs, buried in Milan, S00609). Their transfer to a new basilica was accompanied by miracles, but the identity of the martyrs and the veracity of the miracles were contested by Arians; all in 386 in Milan (northern Italy). Written in Latin in North Africa, c. 422.
E01019Augustine of Hippo in his Confessions (9.7.16) recalls the discovery in Milan (northern Italy) of the bodies of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) by bishop Ambrose of Milan in 386. Written in Latin in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa), 397/400.
E01027Augustine of Hippo, in his Letter to the Catholics against the sect of the Donatists, of 401/405, mentions the discovery and miracles of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), and refers to other miracles and visions in diverse holy places, but emphasises that the veracity of miracles is proven by the Catholic Church, not the other way round. Written in Latin in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa).
E01047Augustine of Hippo, in his City of God (22.8), states that most contemporary miracles, including those produced by the relics of saints, remain unknown, and the healing of a blind man, which took place in Milan (northern Italy) in 386, at the discovery of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), is an exception. He will provide other examples of miracles, describing healings which occurred recently in Africa. Written in Latin in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa), 426/427.
E01104Augustine of Hippo, in his City of God (22.8), tells of the healing of a demoniac at a memorial shrine (memoria) of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), on the estate of Victoriana, near Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa), at the beginning of the 5th c. Written in Latin in Hippo, 426/427.
E01158Augustine of Hippo, in his treatise On the Care of the Dead, tries to answer the question of how living saints can appear in visions to human beings and how dead saints, being in heaven, can perform miracles on earth; he illustrates his considerations with examples taken from stories concerning *John of Lycopolis, (ascetic of Egypt, ob. c. 395, S00102), *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), and *Ambrose (bishop of Milan, ob. 397, S00490). Written in Latin in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa), 420/422.
E01276The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Innocentius (bishop of Rome, ob. 417, S00575), tells of the dedication and endowment of the basilica of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) inside the city, built from the bequest of a certain Vestina; of the roofing and decoration of the basilica of *Agnes (virgin and martyr of Rome, S00097) on the via Nomentana; and of Innocentius' burial in the cemetery ad Ursum Pileatum on the via Portuensis outside Rome, on 28 July [AD 417].
E01841Augustine of Hippo, in his Letter 78, probably of the 400s, to his congregation in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa), explains how he decided to send two clerics, who had accused each other of misbehaviour, to the shrine of *Felix (confessor of Nola, S00000) at Nola (southern Italy), expecting the truth to be revealed there. He refers to a miracle of this kind which took place in Milan (northern Italy), and claims that no miracles occur at the tombs of saints in Africa. Written in Latin in Hippo.
E02034The Latin Martyrdom of *Nazarius and Celsus (martyrs of Milan, S00281) narrates their trials, travels in Italy and Gaul, and martyrdom in Milan under Nero. Their bodies are buried in a secret location, but later found by bishop Ambrose who transfers Nazarius to the Basilica Apostolorum in Milan, where many miracles occur. Written in a number of versions, the earliest presumably in Milan, after the early 5th c.
E02197Calendar of the Church of Carthage (central North Africa) lists saints whose liturgical commemorations were celebrated in June. Written in Latin in Carthage, probably between 505 and 535.
E02323Augustine of Hippo preaches a sermon on the feast of the discovery of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) in Milan (northern Italy), in an undetermined place in central North Africa where some of their relics were deposited. He mentions the martyrs, *Agnes (virgin and martyr of Rome, S00097), *Crispina (of Thagora, martyred at Theveste, S00905), *Nemesianus (child martyr of Africa, S01811), and *Peter the Apostle (S00036), relates a miracle of Gervasius and Protasius when their relics were discovered, and mentions the reading of written accounts (libelli) of martyrs' miracles at their shrines. Sermon 286, delivered in Latin, possibly in 425/430.
E02390Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.31), recounts how Eustochius, the fifth Bishop of Tours (bishop 443-460), built a church in Tours and deposited there relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313). These relics were brought from Italy by *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), as Paulinus of Nola (353-431) recounted in one of his letters. Eustochius was buried in the church of Martin built by Bricius, his predecessor. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.
E02397Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.1), quotes in full the instructions of Pope Gregory the Great in 590 to the people of Rome, then suffering the plague, for a sevenfold litany (septiformis letania), with seven supplicatory processions through the city to the church of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) [Santa Maria Maggiore], departing from different churches: of *Cosmas/Kosmas and Damianus (brothers, physician martyrs of Syria, S00385); *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313); *Marcellinus and Petrus (priest and exorcist, martyrs of Rome, S00577); *Iohannes and Paulus (brothers and eunuchs, martyrs of Rome, S00384); *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030); *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017); *Clemens/Clement, (bishop of Rome, martyr of the Crimea, S00111). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 590/594.
E02403Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (10.31), recounts how Ommatius, the twelfth bishop of Tours (bishop 521-525), restored the church of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), began to construct the church of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), and was buried in the church of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397,S00050); all in Tours. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 591/594.
E02498The Latin Martyrdom and Invention of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), in the form of a letter by Ambrose of Milan, narrates the martyrdoms in Ravenna of *Ursicinus and *Vitalis (both martyrs of Ravenna, S01408 and S02825); the suffering and death of Vitalis' wife Valeria (confessor/martyr of Milan, S02238), and the martyrdom of their children, Gervasius and Protasius, in Milan; the brothers' bodies are stolen by a certain Philippus and later discovered by Ambrose in a marble sarcophagus, together with a booklet narrating their martyrdom. Written in Ravenna or Rome, perhaps in the 5th c.
E02838In Eugippius' Life of *Severinus (hermit and monk in Noricum, ob. 482, S00848), the saint obtains relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), and adds them to relics of other (unnamed) martyrs in his monastery at Favianis (on the upper Danube), between around 454 and 482. Written in Latin near Naples (southern Italy) in 511.
E03519The anonymous Gallic Chronicle of 452, written in Latin in Gaul in the mid 5th c., records the discovery of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) by *Ambrose (bishop of Milan, ob. 397, S00490), in Milan (northern Italy).
E03606Augustine of Hippo preaches a sermon at the deposition of relics of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030) in Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa); he recalls the discovery and distribution of these relics and refers to the finding of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) in Milan (northern Italy), which took place when he was living there. Sermon 318, delivered in Latin in Hippo, c. 425.
E04741Paulinus of Nola composes fourteen poems (the Natalicia) to be delivered at Nola/Cimitile (southern Italy) on the feast day of *Felix (priest and confessor of Nola, S00000). They include an account of Felix’s life, and descriptions of devotion to Felix, focusing on his feast day (14 January), miracles effected by the saint, and the expansion of Felix’s shrine which took place under Paulinus. Written in Latin, in Spain and later Nola, between 395 and 408. Overview entry.
E04856The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 19 June.
E04893The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 28 July.
E05003The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 30 October.
E05104Paulinus of Nola, in a long letter to Sulpicius Severus of 403/404 (Letter 32), discusses building-work carried out by Severus at Primuliacum (southern Gaul) and sends proposals for poetic inscriptions at the site; Paulinus also describes his own building-work at Nola/Cimitile and Funda/Fondi (both southern Italy), quoting in full the poems he has written for these churches. Several of these poetic inscriptions refer to the saints venerated at Primuliacum, Nola and Fondi. Written in Latin at Nola.
E05211Ambrose of Milan, in a letter to his sister (Letter 77), narrates the discovery of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313) and their subsequent translation to the Basilica Ambrosiana in Milan (northern Italy). Written in Latin in Milan, c. 386.
E05215Hymn (Grates tibi, Iesu, nouas), almost certainly by Ambrose of Milan, recounts the discovery of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313). Written in Latin in Milan (northern Italy), after 386.
E05338Gaudentius of Brescia preaches a sermon (Sermon 17) in Brescia (northern Italy), on the dedication of a basilica to the 'Council of Saints', with relics of *John (the Baptist, S00020), *Andrew (the Apostle, S00288), *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199), *Luke (the Evangelist, S00442), *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), *Nazarius (martyr of Milan, S00281), the *Anaunian Martyrs (Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander, ob. c. 397, S00605), and the *Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (S00103). Written in Latin, probably 402/403.
E05559Bede, in his Martyrology, records the feast on 19 June in Milan (northern Italy) of *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313). Written in Latin at Wearmouth-Jarrow (north-east Britain), 725/731.
E05811Agnellus of Ravenna, in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, written in Latin, quotes Latin inscriptions and refers to foundations in honour of the *Vitalis (soldier and martyr of Ravenna, S02826), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), *Gervasius and Prostasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), and *Nazarius (martyr of Milan, S00281) in Ravenna (northern Italy). Agnellus claims these inscriptions and foundations were made during the episcopate of Ecclesius (bishop of Ravenna, 522-532); account written in Ravenna in 830/846.
E05856The Calendar of Willibrord, in its earliest version, records the feasts of various saints in June. Written in Latin at Echternach, Frisia (north-east Gaul), 703/710.
E05912The will of Desiderius, bishop of Auxerre (ob. 614/627), includes donations to churches and monasteries in and around Auxerre, Sens, Cahors, and Toulouse (in northern and south-west Gaul), dedicated to 16 named saints or pairs of saints. Written in Latin at Auxerre (central Gaul), 605/627.
E05916List of the churches and monasteries in and around Auxerre (central Gaul) whose clergy were to conduct mass in the cathedral of Auxerre in given weeks throughout the year. Written in Latin at Auxerre (central Gaul) in the time of Bishop Tetricus or Treticus (692-707), probably in the year 692/3. It lists churches dedicated to *Germanus (bishop of Auxerre, ob. 448, S00455), *Amator (bishop of Auxerre, ob. 418, S01980), *Marianus (ascetic of Auxerre, 5th c., S02175), *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035), *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033), *Eusebius (probably the bishop of Vercelli, ob. 371, S01219), *Nazarius (martyr of Milan, 00281), *Memmius (first bishop of Châlons-en-Champagne, S01285), *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313).
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.
E06047Mosaics in San Vitale, Ravenna (northern Italy), depicting *Vitalis (soldier and martyr of Ravenna, S02826), and busts of the *Apostles and *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313); created c. 549.
E06143Three authentic or substantially authentic Merovingian royal diplomas survive from before 700, which record the concessions of successive Frankish kings of a royal property at Ardin (western Gaul) to the cathedral of Le Mans (north-west Gaul) dedicated to *Gervasius (martyr of Milan, S00349), and also *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033). Written in Latin in Gaul, 669/670-698.
E06245Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem on virginity (8.3), when describing the court of heaven lists numerous saints with the cities of their resting-place. Written in Latin in Gaul, probably in the early 570s.
E06417A document of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 11.15), of AD 600, grants Probus, abbot of the monastery of *Andrew (the apostle, S00288) and *Lucia (virgin and martyr of Syracuse, S00846) in Rome, the right to make a will, in front of witnesses, many of them priests of the titular churches of Rome. Written in Latin in Rome.
E06586The 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 June.
E06659Aldhelm's verse On Virginity lists a range of saints as exemplary virgins, with some variations to the list found in the earlier prose version of the same treatise. Written in Latin in southern Britain, for the nuns at the monastery at Barking (south-east Britain), c. 675/710. Overview entry
E06714Venantius Fortunatus writes the Life of *Germanus (bishop of Paris, ob. 576, S01166), outlining his life, first as abbot of the monastery of saint *Symphorianus (martyr of Autun, S00322) in Autun (central Gaul), and then as bishop of Paris, and listing many miracles. The churches and graves of other saints, particularly Symphorianus, also feature in the narrative. Written in Latin, probably in Poitiers (western Gaul), 576/613.
E06742Sidonius Apollinaris in his Letter 7.1 to Mamertus, of c. 474, recounts how Mamertus, bishop of Vienne (south-east Gaul), found and translated the body of *Ferreolus (soldier and martyr of Vienne, S01893) and the head of *Julian (martyr of Brioude, S00035). Written in Latin at Clermont (central Gaul).
E07377Lombard charter recording a dispute between the bishops of Siena and Arezzo (central Italy), concerning rural churches dedicated to *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), *Ansanus (martyr of Siena, S01345), *John (probably the Baptist, S00020), *Restituta (probably the virgin and martyr of Africa, S02765) and *Gervasius (martyr of Milan, S00313). Written in Latin, probably at Siena, c. 650.
E07796Will of Hadoind, bishop of Le Mans, of 643, leaving property to the cathedral at Le Mans, dedicated to *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) and *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313), and to the churches at Le Mans of *Victorius (bishop of Le Mans, ob. c. 490), of the apostles *Peter and Paul (S00036 and S00008), and of *Vincent (deacon and martyr of Zaragoza, S00290); also to the church of Mary at Évron (in the territory of Le Mans) Written in Latin at Le Mans (north-west Gaul).
E08076Five relic labels at the monastery of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (south-east Gaul), datable by their script to the 7th c., for relics of various Gallic and Italian saints. Written in Latin, either where the relics originated, or at Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.
E08123Anonymous poem, commissioned by Perpetuus (bishop of Tours 458/459-488/489) and recorded in the Martinellus, for a shrine (memoria) with relics of *John (the Baptist, S00020), *Felix (probably the soldier and martyr of Milan, brother of Nabor, S00609), *Victor (probably Victor 'Maurus', soldier and martyr of Milan, S00312), and *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313); probably in, or very near, the basilica of Martin at Tours (north-west Gaul). Written in Latin at Tours.
E0831535 relic labels at Sens (northern Gaul), datable by their script to the 7th or 8th c., for relics of a great diversity of saints. Written in Latin, perhaps at Sens, or at an earlier stage in their transmission.
E08408The will of Ermentrude/Erminethrudis outlines the arrangements for numerous bequests of possessions, properties and slaves; among the beneficiaries are churches dedicated to various saints in or near Paris (northern Gaul). Written in Latin at Paris, 6th or 7th c, perhaps c. 630, or after c. 650.