Saints Proculus and Eutyches, as well as Acutius
Saints Proculus and Eutyches, as well as Acutius
- Name: Saints Proculus and Eutyches and Acutius
- Title: Martyrs in Pozzuoli
- 18 October
- Current:
- Martyrology: 2004 edition
- Type: Commemoration
Patrons of: Pozzuoli
The martyrs of Pozzuoli, Proculus, Eutiquio and Acutizio, are placed in the fourth century. They are closely related to the martyrs of other well-known saints, such as San Gennaro and the saints Festus, Sosio and Desiderio. According to the “Actas Boloniesas”, when the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) intensified against the Christians, the bishop of Benevento (Gennaro) was in Pozzuoli disguised so as not to be recognized by the pagans. They flocked to Pozzuoli to consult the Cumaean Sibyl, priestess of Apollo who lived in her cave near Cumas.
The presence of the bishop was well known to Christians, because Sosius, the deacon of Misenum, and Festus, the reader Desiderius, visited him several times. The pagans revealed that Sosius was a Christian and deposed him before Judge Dragontius. Sosius of Misenum was then captured and imprisoned. He was then sentenced to be eaten by the bears of Pozzuoli. After learning of his arrest, Festus, Bishop Gennaro and Desiderio wanted to visit Sosio to offer him comfort. They too were found Christians and taken to the court of Dragonzio.
The sentence "to beasts" was reduced to one for all of them by Dagonzio, who beheaded them himself. Today we celebrate the three inhabitants of Pozzuoli, the Christian deacons and the laity Proculus and Acutizio, who vigorously protested against the sentence that led to the execution of the martyrs. They were arrested with the fanaticism and ease of their time and sentenced to be beheaded on the same date, September 19, 305. This happened near the Solfatara. The Church celebrates the martyrdom of San Gennaro on this date. The core of the seven is also celebrated (Sosius Festus and Desiderius).
Although the relics of Eutichio and Acuzio were originally preserved in the Praetorium Falcidii, near the early Christian basilica of San Esteban, the first cathedral of Pozzuoli, it is believed that they were moved to Santo Stefano in Naples in the second half of the eighth century. Proculus, the main patron of Pozzuoli, was instead placed in the Calpurnian Temple, transformed into the new city cathedral. ROMAN MARTYROLOGIST. In Pozzuoli, in Campania, the saints Proculus (deacon), Eutichio (eutychius) and Acuzio were martyred.