Maternus of Milan
Encyclopedia
Maternus was Archbishop of Milan from c. 316 to c. 328. He is honoured as a Saint
in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on July 18.
Maternus probably discovered the relics of the saints Nabor and Felix
, who were martyr
ed during the reign of Emperor Diocletian
in 303, and translated
them from Lodi Vecchio
to Milano, where it was build a church (Basilica Naboriana) in their honor. Maternus completed the erection of the basilica vetus
, started in 313, which was the first cathedral of Milan
and that was placed on the area nowadays occupied by the present Cathedral of Milan.
Maternus died in c. 328 on the July 18, which was set as his feast day. His body was buried in Milan
in the Basilica Naboriana.
In 1258 his relics were moved to the church of Saint Francis of Assisi that was erected in place of the Basilica Naboriana. On 14 April 11798, shortly before the demolition of church of Saint Francis of Assisi, his relics were translated in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
(placed a few hundred meters southwards). His relics are placed today in an ancient sarcophagus
in the Right-side nave of Sant'Ambrogio Basilica along with the relics of Saints Nabor and Felix, and of Saint Valeria.
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 July 18.
Life
Almost nothing is known about the life of Maternus. He was elected as bishop of Milan in c. 316 and reigned till about 328.Maternus probably discovered the relics of the saints Nabor and Felix
Nabor and Felix
Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed to contain their relics.In the apocryphal "Acts of Saints Nabor and Felix" Saints Nabor and Felix were martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303. A tomb in Milan is believed...
, who were martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed during the reign of Emperor Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
in 303, 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...
them from Lodi Vecchio
Lodi Vecchio
Lodi Vecchio is a comune in the Province of Lodi in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southeast of Milan and about 8 km west of Lodi...
to Milano, where it was build a church (Basilica Naboriana) in their honor. Maternus completed the erection of the basilica vetus
Basilica vetus
Basilica vetus is a church in Milan, Italy. It was first established in 313....
, started in 313, which was the first cathedral of 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 ,...
and that was placed on the area nowadays occupied by the present Cathedral of Milan.
Maternus died in c. 328 on the July 18, which was set as his feast day. His body was buried 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 ,...
in the Basilica Naboriana.
In 1258 his relics were moved to the church of Saint Francis of Assisi that was erected in place of the Basilica Naboriana. On 14 April 11798, shortly before the demolition of church of Saint Francis of Assisi, his relics were translated in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is a church in Milan, northern Italy.-History:One of the most ancient churches in Milan, it was built by St. Ambrose in 379-386, in an area where numerous martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was in fact Basilica...
(placed a few hundred meters southwards). His relics are placed today in an ancient sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
in the Right-side nave of Sant'Ambrogio Basilica along with the relics of Saints Nabor and Felix, and of Saint Valeria.