Theonestus of Vercelli
Encyclopedia
Saint Theonestus of Vercelli is venerated as a martyr
by the Catholic Church. Theonestus may have been a member of the early Christian
community in Vercelli
, living in an era earlier than that of Eusebius of Vercelli
. Theonestus may have been a martyr, whose relics were buried in the cemetery where other Christians were buried, outside the city walls. It is believed that his whole body was conserved in the tomb dedicated to him. He is probably not the saint of the same name
who was said to have been killed at Altinum
by the Arians
. This saint of Altinum, whose legend, in any case, is confused and contradictory, may have been confused for the martyr of Vercelli, whose historicity is more certain.
This text, however, was written in the 8th century, and thus its reliability as a source is doubtful; a basilica dedicated to Theonestus may have existed by the fourth century. When this basilica was progressively demolished in the 16th century, the sepulchers of Eusebius and Theonestus are purported to have been discovered. A cruciform inscription, now lost, read S. MARTIR THEONESTUS, and was judged to date from the 4th century.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
by the Catholic Church. Theonestus may have been a member of the early Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community in Vercelli
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
, living in an era earlier than that of Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius of Vercelli was a bishop and saint in Italy. Along with Athanasius, he affirmed the divinity of Jesus against Arianism.-Biography:...
. Theonestus may have been a martyr, whose relics were buried in the cemetery where other Christians were buried, outside the city walls. It is believed that his whole body was conserved in the tomb dedicated to him. He is probably not the saint of the same name
Theonistus
Saint Theonistus is a saint venerated by the Catholic Church. Theonistus is venerated with two companions, Tabra and Tabratha...
who was said to have been killed at Altinum
Altinum
260px|thumb|Remains of the Roman [[decumanus]].Altinum is the name of an ancient coastal town of the Veneti 15 km SE of the modern Treviso, northern Italy, on the edge of the lagoons...
by the Arians
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
. This saint of Altinum, whose legend, in any case, is confused and contradictory, may have been confused for the martyr of Vercelli, whose historicity is more certain.
Historicity
The only ancient source that mentions Saint Theonestus is the Vita of Saint Eusebius of Vercelli. This text records the fact that Eusebius (d. 371 AD) wished to be buried near the relics of Theonestus, which lay outside of the city walls of Vercelli. Eusebius dedicated a basilica he built to Theonestus, and was interred in it.This text, however, was written in the 8th century, and thus its reliability as a source is doubtful; a basilica dedicated to Theonestus may have existed by the fourth century. When this basilica was progressively demolished in the 16th century, the sepulchers of Eusebius and Theonestus are purported to have been discovered. A cruciform inscription, now lost, read S. MARTIR THEONESTUS, and was judged to date from the 4th century.