Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus (I)
The holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus suffered in the city of Mediolanum in the reign of the Emperor Nero (54–68). Saint Nazarius, the son of the Christian Perpetua and the Jew Africanus, was born in Rome and was baptised by the hand of Bishop Linus. From his youth the Lord’s chosen one resolved to devote himself to preaching the Christian teaching and helping persecuted Christians. With this aim he left Rome and went to Milan. While visiting Christians in prison, Nazarius came to know the twin brothers Protasius and Gervasius.
The twin brothers were born in Mediolanum (Milan), into the family of the wealthy Romans Vitalis and Valeria. After the martyr’s death of their parents the brothers shared out all their property among the poor, freed their slaves, and took up the labour of fasting and prayer. The pagans seized those who hoped in the Saviour and locked them in prison. Saint Nazarius came to love them dearly and eased their sufferings as far as he could. Because of this the lawless beat the blessed one cruelly and drove him out of the city.
Saint Nazarius preached the Gospel unceasingly and converted many idol-worshippers to the true faith. In the city of Cemelea he baptised the son of a Christian woman, named Celsus, and found in him a faithful disciple and fellow labourer. For preaching Christ among the pagans they were thrown to the beasts to be torn apart, but the wild animals did not touch the martyrs. Then the lawless tried to drown the saints in the sea, but they walked about on the waves as on dry land. The soldiers who had been charged with putting the Lord’s chosen ones to death were so astonished that they themselves believed in Christ and set the holy martyrs free.
Having miraculously survived, Nazarius and Celsus came to Mediolanum and visited Gervasius and Protasius. When this was reported to the Emperor Nero, he ordered Nazarius and Celsus to be beheaded. Soon Gervasius and Protasius too were put to death.
Many years later, in the reign of the holy King Theodosius (408–450), Ambrose of Milan by divine revelation found the tombs of the martyrs, brought up their incorrupt relics and solemnly translated them to the church of Mediolanum (according to another account the relics were brought up in 395 or 396).
