Eleutherius and Antia

Infobox Saint
name= Saints Eleutherius and Antia
birth_date=
death_date=traditionally 121 AD
feast_day= principally April 18, but also May 15, September 5, November 24, May 21; May 13; May 23, 31 December
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


imagesize= 250px
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birth_place= Messina?
death_place= Rome
titles= Martyrs
beatified_date=
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canonized_date=
canonized_place=
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major_shrine=Relics claimed by Cathedral of Rieti
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Eleutherius (sometimes called Liberalis or Liberator cite web|url=http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91109|author=Borrelli, Antonio|title=San Liberatore Vescovo e martire |date=September 14 2002|publisher=Santie Beati|accessdate=August 7|accessyear=2008] , Latin translations of his Greek name) and Antia ( _it. Santi Eleuterio e Anzia) are venerated as Christian saints and martyrs.

Eleutherius is venerated as a bishop of Illyricum; according to tradition, Antia was his mother. cite web|url=http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91198|title=Santi Eleuterio ed Anzia Martiri|date=October 12 2002|publisher=Santie Beati|accessdate=August 6|accessyear=2008 ] According to a source in Greek dating from before the fifth century, Antia was the widow of a consul named Eugenius. Her son Eleutherius was ordained a deacon and priest and then consecrated as bishop by a man named Anicetus. This tradition may have originated through confusion with Pope St. Eleutherius, who may have been a deacon of Pope Anicetus (c. 154-164). [cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05378a.htm|author=Knight, Kevin|title=Pope St. Eleutherius (Eleutheros)|publisher=Catholic Encyclopedia New Advent|date=2008|accessdate=August 7|accessyear=2008 ]

The tradition states that Eleutherius was appointed as bishop of Illyricum and was imprisoned by a "comes" named Felix; Eleutherius and Antia were taken to Rome to be judged by the Emperor Hadrian. According to this source, Eleutherius and Antia were both condemned to death on December 15.

A Latin translation of this Greek text, dating from around the eighth century, states that Anicetus, after consecrating Eleutherius, assigned him to the see of "Apuliam Aecanam civitatem" (Aeca). Eleutherius and Antia were then taken to Rome and killed on April 18. The source states that the citizens of Aeca retrieved the bodies of the two martyrs from Rome and returned to their city with them.

Baronius uses the descriptive "Episcopi Illyrici" (bishop of Illyricum) in his "Roman Martyrology", since he consulted the Greek source. Hippolyte Delehaye believed the association with Aeca was erroneous, and centuries earlier, Florus had believed "Apuliam Aecanam" was an error for "Apuliam Messenam" (Messina), but the association with Messina may also be erroneous.

The confusion is increased when it is taken into account the fact that Eleutherius' name, which means "one who is free," was translated into Latin as "Liberator" or "Liberalis"; he may have been confused with other saints named Liberalis.

Messina still claims Eleutherius and Antia as natives, stating that he was born in this Sicilian city on April 18, 121, and that later Eleutherius became a bishop of Illyricum. cite web|url=http://www.granmirci.it/messinesiillustri1.htm|title=Dicearco da Messina|publisher=Granmirci|accessdate=August 7|accessyear=2008] They were tortured with hot boiling oil, resin, and heated irons, and then thrown to the lions; none had the desired effect and finally the two were executed.

Their bodies were then, according to tradition, buried in the Roman church of Santa Sabina, in the altar of San Lorenzo, and then moved to San Giovanni della Pigna, near the Pantheon, with the relics of Saint Genesius of Rome. The association with San Giovanni della Pigna may also be a result of confusion with Pope Eleuterus, whose relics were also said to have been translated to San Giovanni della Pigna. Christians from Rieti then may have carried their relics to their city, which still claims them. cite web|url=http://www.enrosadira.it/santi/e/eleuterio-anzia.htm|title=Santi Eleuterio e Anzia|publisher=Enrosadira|accessdate=August 6|accessyear=2008]

Veneration

Despite this confusion, Eleutherius' cult is ancient and widespread, and his name appears not only in ancient Greek calendars, but also in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (under April 18, September 5, November 24, where it states “in civitate Riatensi”, a reference to Rieti, where he was also venerated [A website states: "And very soon Rieti had its first martyrs, the priest Marone and Vittorio di Cotilia: later on Eleuterio and his mother Anzia". See [http://www.dopropertysearch.co.uk/tourist-information/lazio/rieti/rieti/?lg=eng www.dopropertysearch.co.uk] ] ); the Marble Calendar of Naples (under April 18), and in Mozarabic calendars.

Rieti

The church of Sant'Eleuterio was built outside of the city walls of Rieti around the fifth century. According to tradition, the church claimed the relics of Eleutherius and Antia, carried from Rome by Bishop Primus of Rieti.

Around the fifth or sixth centuries, the Benedictine Stephen of Rieti founded an monastic community near the tomb of the two martyrs. cite web|author=Tozzi, Ileana|url=http://www.outdoorrieti.it/public/moduli/30.pdf.pdf|title=La memoria dei Santi martiri Eleuterio ed Anzia presso la cattedrale di Rieti|publisher=Outdoor Rieti|accessdate=August 6|accessyear=2008 ]

Devotion to Eleutherius increased after a legend associated with Bishop Saint Probus of Rieti: that before his death a vision appeared of Saints Eleutherius and Juvenal ("Giovenale") to accompany the bishop into heaven.

The church of Sant'Eleuterio acquired importance during the age of the Lombards, with its foundation confirmed with solemn honors by Liutprand. It acquired greater splendor after 1000 AD, when Peter, a local abbot, restored the church and its monastery, which lay near a stream and the city cemetery. In 1122, Count Grimald granted Sant'Eleuterio, the monastery, and its lands to the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Rieti. On August 13, 1198, Bishop Adolphus Secenari and Pope Innocent III translated the relics of the two saints to the cathedral, elevating the church to the status of a collegiate church with twelve canon priests and an abbot-rector.

Other places in Italy

Numerous churches rose in Italy in honor of this saint. There was a church dedicated to him at Rome, on the Via Labicana. He was venerated on April 18 at Nepi, Vasto, and at Poreč (Parenzo) in Istria. At Chieti, Benevento, Salerno, and Sulmona, he was venerated on May 21; at Terracina on May 13; on May 23 at Arce, and on 31 December at Canne, where he described as a bishop of that town and a son of Evantia (a corruption of "Antia"). There were other churches dedicated to him at Mugnano del Cardinale and Ariano Irpino.

The monastery of San Liberatore a Maiella is dedicated to him.

References

External links

*it icon [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91198 ELEUTERIO e ANZIA]
*it icon [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91109 San Liberatore]
*it icon [http://www.enrosadira.it/santi/e/eleuterio-anzia.htm SANTI ELEUTERIO E ANZIA]
*it icon [http://www.outdoorrieti.it/public/moduli/30.pdf.pdf LA MEMORIA DI ELEUTERIO E ANZIA]
*it icon [http://www.granmirci.it/messinesiillustri1.htm Dicearco da Messina]