Anathalon
Encyclopedia
Anathalon was the first recorded Bishop of Milan and lived at the end 2nd-century or early 3rd-century. He is honoured as a Saint
in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on September 25 in Milan
. A late tradition made him the first bishop of Brescia
where his feast day is celebrated on September 24.
name, that he was bishop of Milan at the end 2nd-century or early 3rd-century, and that he died during a pastoral trip in Brescia
, which was under his jurisdiction.
Middle age texts add biographic details which are to be considered legendary. The treatise De Episcopis Mettensibus of Paul the Deacon
(8th-century) narrates that Anathalon was a pupil of Saint Peter
who sent him as bishop in Milan
, while the Historia Dataria (11th-century) explains that Anathalon was a disciple of the Apostle Barnabas
who came to preach in Italy and consecrated him as bishop of Milan. An other legend says that Anathalon built a church in Milan dedicated to the Savior over an ancient pagan temple dedicated to Mercury
, in a area where now stand the church of San Giorgio al Palazzo
.
, today no more extant, near the present church of San Babila
. Only in 1268 his relics were discovered in Brescia and translated
into the church of Saint Florian. In 1472 his relics were translated to the Old Cathedral of Brescia where are today.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on September 25 in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. A late tradition made him the first bishop of Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
where his feast day is celebrated on September 24.
Life
Almost nothing is known about the life and the episcopate of Anathalon, except that he had a GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
name, that he was bishop of Milan at the end 2nd-century or early 3rd-century, and that he died during a pastoral trip in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, which was under his jurisdiction.
Middle age texts add biographic details which are to be considered legendary. The treatise De Episcopis Mettensibus of Paul the Deacon
Paul the Deacon
Paul the Deacon , also known as Paulus Diaconus, Warnefred, Barnefridus and Cassinensis, , was a Benedictine monk and historian of the Lombards.-Life:...
(8th-century) narrates that Anathalon was a pupil of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
who sent him as bishop in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, while the Historia Dataria (11th-century) explains that Anathalon was a disciple of the Apostle Barnabas
Barnabas
Barnabas , born Joseph, was an Early Christian, one of the earliest Christian disciples in Jerusalem. In terms of culture and background, he was a Hellenised Jew, specifically a Levite. Named an apostle in , he and Saint Paul undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts...
who came to preach in Italy and consecrated him as bishop of Milan. An other legend says that Anathalon built a church in Milan dedicated to the Savior over an ancient pagan temple dedicated to Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
, in a area where now stand the church of San Giorgio al Palazzo
San Giorgio al Palazzo
San Giorgio al Palazzo is a church in Milan, northern Italy.The church was founded around 750, and was modernized in Baroque style by Francesco Maria Richini in 1623. The façade, designed by Francesco Croce, was built in the 18th century....
.
Veneration
The older place of veneration for this saint was the basilica ad Concilia Sanctorum in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, today no more extant, near the present church of San Babila
San Babila
San Babila is a church in Milan, northern Italy. It was once considered the third most important in the city after the Duomo and the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio...
. Only in 1268 his relics were discovered in Brescia and translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
into the church of Saint Florian. In 1472 his relics were translated to the Old Cathedral of Brescia where are today.