Cantius, Cantianius, and Cantianella

Infobox Saint
name= Saints Cantius, Cantianius, and Cantianella
birth_date=
death_date=~304 AD
feast_day= May 31
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


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attributes= Cantius and Cantianius are depicted as two youths; Cantianella as a girl; Protus as a tutor with a staff and faggot; sword; the group fleeing in a chariot; beheaded before an idol; palms and sword; Protus is sometimes depicted as a bishop.
patronage=children; Catholic youth
major_shrine= San Canzian d'Isonzo
suppressed_date=
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Saints Cantius, Cantianius, and Cantianella (d. May 31, ca. 304) are venerated as saints and martyrs by the Christian church. Tradition states that the three were orphaned siblings, and members of a noble Roman family, the Anicii. They were related to the Emperor Carinus. Protus was their tutor or guardian. He was a Christian who converted the three siblings.

When Diocletian began to persecute Christians, the four left Rome, selling their home and giving most of the proceeds to the poor. They reached their estate in Aquileia. However, they were captured at a place called "Aquae Gradatae" (now called San Canzian d'Isonzo). They were beheaded after they refused to offer sacrifice to the civic gods.

Veneration

A priest named Zoelus embalmed and buried their bodies at the site. Saint Maximus of Turin subsequently preached a panegyric in their honor, and the saints are also mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus. Their cult was anciently diffused in Lombardy, France, and Germany. A paleochristian basilica and tomb was discovered at San Canzian in recent times; it contained the remains of three individuals. [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91149]

External links

* [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0531.htm#cant Saints of May 31: Cantius, Cantianius, and Cantianella]
*it icon [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91149 Santi Canzio, Canziano e Canzianilla]