Martyrology of Ado, for use in the Cathedral of Lund, and Pseudonym or term for love, charity. This is often used to refer to a gathering of Christians for various purposes. Saint-Bishop (374-97) of Milan and Church historian.
Applied to writings, especially those of ancient religious origin, which are considered to be of doubtful authenticity. An arched, open niche allowing more surface space for reverential paintings and inscriptions, the tomb for which is located directly below. There may be other tombs below the primary one. When empty, the top tomb would appear to be much like a rectangular tub in a block of stone, with the curved canopy of stone directly over it. In other words, while the lower tombs would be accessed through their exposed side walls the top was accessed through its exposed top surface. Arcosolia were the tombs of prominent individuals. (also referred to as an altar tomb) Open areas associated with sandpits and cemeteries, but which could also be entirely underground and hidden from view. Name given to the the legendary daughter of Diocletian who was said to have been possessed by demons and then cured by Cyriacus. (An obvious exorcism reference that is detailed by Friar Capgrave during his visit to Rome in 1450 where her name is spelled Archemia. (The translation of Voragine's mid-13th century narration of the Cyriacus legend spells it Arthemia.) The closest Roman reference is the Temple of Artemis in Selçuk, Turkey, which may have been one of the sites visited by Cyriacus of Ancona in the 15th century. Diocletian's daughter, Valeria, married his co-ruler, Galerius - Diocletian's wife was Prisca.) A large, "kingly" hall or "important" church "a large oblong hall, divided by columns into a central nave and two or four aisles." in Rome is a good example. (See THERMIS below.) This was merely the title of the man in charge of all things Christian in Rome when Christianity was illegal and all the Bishops were considered equals. Eventually, once Christianity became legal and was backed by the new 'Holy' Roman Empire and major powers became concentrated in the church in Rome, the primacy of the Bishop of Rome over all other Bishops naturally evolved into him assuming the unique name of Pope (Pappa) that's used to this day. The first one to do so was Ciricius who governed from 384 to 399. His predecessor, Damasus, may have recommended the title for his successor once his governance ended. A tomb large enough for two bodies. A loculus has one and a triculus three. Associations initially begun by tradesmen coming together to share the costs of burial expenses. While Christianity was illegal and burial practices were reverting back to whole body instead of cremation, these groups served as cover for clandestine meetings of Christians. While wealthy Christians and their friends were gathering in the home of one of them, which served as their "church", ordinary "blue collar" Christians may have met in cemeteries or underground work sites for their "church" services. Regardless of method, history seems to prove there were a whole lot of Christian gatherings ongoing throughout Rome and elsewhere during the 3rd century - presumably in a clandestine manner. (See fossori for legal burial practices.) Daughter of Quintus Metellus, the conqueror of Crete. Her tomb appears to have been the prime attraction along the ancient Appian Way long before Christianity and even while the Christian Callistus complex was being developed. A status maintained until Pope Damasus (366~83) reopened the catacombs, which are closer to Rome, and made them available to pilgrims coming to honour the martyrs therein.
Her tomb was located farthest from Rome in the area referred to as "catacumbas" long before the 3rd
century. That means that the area along the Via Appia Antica from
the Servian/Aurelian Walls to the Tomb of Caecilia Metella was a popular
burial and tourist site well before Christians made it more so. The
groups of visitors to her tomb could have provided cover to those
Christians visiting or working at Callistus, the burial site of the martyr Caecilia, half-way along the road. In other
words, if guards at the old Servian (?350? B.C. ~ 270 A.D.) or new
Aurelian (270 ~ today) walls were timing those exiting Rome to visit the
Metella tomb, the round trip time saved for the untravelled route between
the two could have been spent in Callistus without drawing much notice.
Most southeasterly of the seven hills of Rome. After the
fires of 27 AD, it bacame a preferred site for wealthy ancient Romans. The surrounding greenspace
comprises the present day Villa Celimontana, the old palace of which, since 1926,
has been the headquarters for the Italian Geography Institute. The
entire complex is owned by the municipality of Rome and can still be
visited by tourists. The surrounding area was once owned by Ciriaco Mattei (below) - a person who may have
had close blood and/or other connections to the ancient 
. (See also Domnica, below)
The St. Cyriaca who owned this
house and possibly the cemetery named
after her could have had a first name of Antonia:
Derived from the term "catacumbas" which referred to an area
south of Rome (see above) that may have been associated with above ground
crypts or other burial niches dug into the sides of ancient riverbed-like
roadways. The term was extended to encompass all 'underground'
cemeteries sometime around the 9th century.
Calixtus
in 8 languages AND
SOK-MEDEDELINGEN 26 - The Catacombs of Valkenburg: a
modern re-creation of those in Rome that "can still be visited."
An official chair or throne/seat of a Bishop.
The saint of the family which donated the Callistus cemetery to the
Church before the end of the 2nd century has her
own page.
[ The earliest form of the spelling of our family name that we have found in Germany, so far, is CYRIAX with the X pronounced like the ancient Greek with a hard K - possibly indicating a Christian affinity back when Christianity was still gathering strength in Germany. ]
Nominally, a church is any place of worship. The first entry on page
241 of the 1969 Random House Dictionary of the English Language (College
Edition) has, "1. a building for public Christian
worship." But, due to the close association of some of the
spellings of our ancient greek surname, Kyriakou, with the
similarly ancient greek term for church, Kyriake, and the
proclivity throughout history for almost any formalized spelling to also
become a genealogical surname, we have now included all the 71 spellings
referenced above as possible variations of our family surname. [ Adding those other spellings makes it more likely that much
more of the DNA involved will not relate to our primary patriarchal blood
line, but it is necessary to find those who will match. ]
Patron of the Arts and early 17th century Roman notable who managed to
put together an estate (Villa Mattei) on the site of what could
have been the ancient familial homestead of the 
- on one of the seven hills of Rome -- the Caelian (Coelian) Hill.
(See Marcellinus/Marcellus.)
Eventually, the preeminent successor to the last pagan emperor,
Diocletian, Constantine is the Emperor who legalizes
Christianity with the
of 313 and encourages its phoenix-like rise from the ashes of the FINAL Great Persecution. According to an
article regarding the evolution of our world-wide calendar in the
February 1999 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine, "... he added a
new slate of holidays and festivals, adopted the Jewish seven-day week
and designated Sunday, rather than the Jewish Sabbath or the Roman
Saturn's Day, as a day of worship."
He also incorporated and "Officially Recognized" the 
CHI-RHO Monogram (local discussion above), representing Christ on
the Cross, into his regime. See also the excellent Life of Constantine by his contemporary Eusebius
translation for more about this VERY IMPORTANT PERSON in
world and Christian history.
Larger burial area containing the tomb(s) of one or more bodies.
Most of those built before the 3rd century seem to be associated with the
tombs of wealthy family members and their friends, including martyrs. After 313, when Christianity was legalized,
many previously ordinary burial sites were enlarged to accomodate
pilgrims coming to honour the martyrs buried
therein. It seems that the underground burial activities of the
Church during the 3rd century were done in the most expeditious manner
possible without fanfare, fanciful decoration or explanatory
inscription. In other words, bodies were buried (and hidden) as
quickly as possible with minimal descriptive reference. The Crypt of the Popes is a prime example
of a plain, dormitory like room converted into an ostentatious crypt more
than a hundred years after it had been filled with bodies and then hidden
with dirt fill.
It contains the archaeological and physical proof of the many martyrdoms occurring in the middle of the 3rd century -
something apparently not known until it was re-discovered around the
middle of the 4th century AFTER the Depositio Martyrum
listing of the 'known' saint-martyrs had already been published -
the latter not containing many of the names of the bodies of the Popes
found within the crypt.
Smaller type a crypt housing the loculi and arcosolia of a group
related by family or some other commonality.
This had a more positive connotation when first used as a sign of
'massive' veneration to the saints of the ancient Church who gave their
lives to help preserve it. The existance of a cult was one method
used by historians to determine whether some martyrs,
whose official Church records were destroyed, had actually ever
lived. In other words, some of the most notorious
martyrs had oral histories which survived beyond the FINAL Great Persecution of 304. Those 'tales'
gave rise to traditions of veneration that evolved into cults which
maintained their crypt or other site of veneration. Later
historians used the existence of these cults as prima facie evidence that
the martyr to whom their respect was directed actually
lived. Our St. Cyriacus at
the Baths may have been one of these - at least up until a cemetary cite was found in the
18th century which was said to have contained inscriptions dedicated to
him.
Pope (366-84), Saint, Administrator, Historian and probably the first
for Christian antiquities. Page 369 of the Frend book has "... even the most prominent Christians,
the Popes, were buried in simple graves whose decoration was confined to
plaster and linear paintwork despite their fame ... Only in
Damasus' time (366-384) did their tombs become monumental, a policy that
fitted well with Damasus' reputation for ostentation and display."
One discussion at Emperor Diocletian points out a way
Damasus may have affected the Roman Calendar of the times. A
suggestion of what may have been the primary goal of his efforts is
mentioned at the cemeteries
page. Pope Damasus may have done for the revitalizing
Christianity what Muhammid Ali did for boxing and Tiger Woods has been
doing for golf - making it a more poplular participatory activity than it
had ever been.
Damasus was born, probably into a non-Christian family at the time, when the FINAL Great Persecution had just begun. He undoubtedly had an interest in all things regarding that FINAL Great Persecution and may have converted to Christianity as a result - becoming one of, if not its primary promoters. He may have supervised most of the effort that went into creating the Depositio Martyrum and other 'official' writings that replaced whatever administrative records were destroyed in Rome during the FINAL Great Persecution. We do know that he supervised the celebrated engraver Furius Dionysius Philocalus regarding the 'tourism-pilgrim related' Damasian inscriptions placed in some of the catacombs of Rome. (See Dasumian immediately below for one example.)
Other biographical links: Catholic-Forum
's daughter was named Valeria - not Artemia. The last MAJOR pagan Roman Emperor, Diocletian, was the 20 year long ruler who had brought stability and order back to the empire after the turbulent Period of Military Anarchy during the middle 5 decades of the 3rd century. He probably wanted to leave to his pagan successors the parting gift of ridding the world, ONCE AND FOR ALL, of the Christianity that had been a threat to that order and stability for much of the prior century. His FINAL Great Persecution began in earnest in 303 a couple years before he retired to the massive 91 acre estate he had built at Split, Spalato, Spalatro or Spljet on the Adriatic coast (between the Gulfs of Brazza and Salona) - the gigantic size and fortifications of which may have motivated some cynical witnesses of the time to refer to it also as Diocletianopolis.
Click Title page for the Ruins of the palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia to see what architect Robert Adam (1728-1792) had prepared for the King & Queen in the year 1764. Click U. of Wisconsin Digital Library to see the rest of that publication -- a very comprehensive record of that project.
[ The June 2010
issue of the Smithsonian Magazine's article, "Home Away From Rome", pages
40~49, has a section with several pictures of Diocletian's Split
Estate beginning on page 46. ]
The February 1999 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine, page 50, in a discussion of the origin of our worldwide calendar, indicates that one group of Romans used "a calendar that started with the first year of the reign of Emperor Diocletian." (That tradition may have begun as a result of Administrator-Pope-Saint Damasus' efforts to reconstruct events that transpired before all Christians were killed off at the beginning of the 4th century. In other words, he may have gone around asking "did that happen before or after Diocletian became Emperor (or retired as Emperor)" so often that people began using the year 284 (or 305) as the base point for all event specific references relating to the destruction all of things Christian (ergo, why the questions from Damasus) at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th centuries.) Apart from that possibility, Diocletian was also probably the most memorable of the Roman Emperors of the time - for both good and bad deeds and for the two decade long length of his tenure. [ Another article in the August 1999 Smithsonian Magazine, p. 84, indicates that the extant system "... had been instituted by Diocletian, ...". Could it be that the term A.D. began as a reference to Diocletian and the year 284 (or 305) until the Church of Rome became powerful enough to change it to what was estimated to be the birth year of Jesus Christ and a more palatable reference to Anno Domini?! ] see also
The latinized Cyriaca becomes Domnica. (See also the Caelian Hill, above.) The latin term Dominicum appears twice in the Martyrologium Romanum - Introductory Page. The greek equivalent to dominicum is kyriakon. The earliest, scholarly reference to any of these terms relative to our family history project is in footnote 2 on pages 104-105 of Ye Solace of Pilgrims ... shown immediately below:
The Tukor & Malleson book, referenced immediately below, appears to have the best explanation of the controversey surrounding the term Dominicum (referenced above as the 'old title'), especially apparently, when applied to the Church of S. MARIA IN DOMNICA. The church happens to be named after a woman having had the greek equivalent name as her own who, coincidentally, also owned a palace that had a lot to do with the Church and its early, ancient administration. The term Dominicum is a purely religious one having to do with the appellation given to the physical aspects of a renowned center of Church related activities transpiring back when Christianity was 'mostly' illegal before the beginning of the 4th century. Its Greek abbreviation 'EP' appears on some tombs to signify that the body of a Bishop of Rome or, in our modern usage, Pope, is buried therein. A head-sized opening into a cubicle (small crypt) used to view its contents. (These were made after Christianity was legalized in order to accomodate the pilgrims coming to venerate and view the tombs of the martyrs.) The Van der Meer atlas, pages 56-7, indicates that the FINAL Great Persecution began on February 23rd, 304 (should be 303, a year earlier for the Administrative portion involving the descruction of all things Christian but not yet the Christians, themselves), which was the long recognized 'festival of boundaries' or Terminalia. It was intended to put an end to Christianity once and for all but resulted in more mayhem and disorder than the Empire anticipated. One portion of 'The Edict' apparently allowed anyone to do anything to any Christian, which got out of hand quickly and hastened the retirement of the aging Diocletian. His entire reign, one need remember, was devoted to 're-establishing' the order that his final edict negated. He may have ruled a few years too many beyond his prime! (Click here to read more about this 'final' persecution.) Tomb dug into the floor - usually because that was the only space left near the most revered martyrs where later, 'legal' Christians wanted to be buried. Gravediggers in the catacombs. There are recorded inscriptions, dating after Christianity was made legal, indicating that these workers sold tombs to families wanting burial places near the martyrs in the undreground catacombs. These appear to be normal burials of non-martyred Christians - in the most revered cemeteries in the world. The fossori, himself, may have been a member of an ancient trade union which bought digging and burial rights from the owner - the owner, after Christianity was legalized in the second decade of the 4th century, being the Church. Click here to see a pop-up file of all the Maxim... named PERSECUTORS of the 3rd and 4th centuries and the special relationship Galerius had to most of them, including having Maximianus as part of his own name. This is the open tunnel filled with body holding crypts dug into the earthen (tufa) walls on either side that comprised the labyrinth of the catacombs Underground burial chamber. Pseudonym or term for peace. (Just as Lucina could have been a pseudonym for the enlightened, wealthy Christian women who furnished the real estate upon which the catacombs were sited.) Description of the nature of the design of some catacombs. It hints that the hiding of bodies was done with the aid of confusion and quick sealing of entryways. Some visitors were accidentally buried alive in catacombs sealed in haste to prevent rapidly approaching authorities from gaining access thereto. The function of steep staircases and some of the buildings or sand piles at above ground entryways may have served to store the fill used for gravity enhanced sealing. Another method was to use the soil from new galleries to seal those already filled with bodies. Another was to take advantage of the absolute darkness to create galleries going off in varying directions to confuse, lose or impede interlopers accessing them while they were open. A polite way of calling something a falsehood, fabrication or lie. Although there's probably some truth in any legend, most appear to be based more upon what would reward the person relating the story than upon what actually happened. The modern equivalent would be popular television programming. In other words, whatever parts of the story garnered a bigger audience were embellished, while those that lost listeners were dropped.
Over time, some stories became almost completely unrelated to the facts - just as some television series become almost incredible in order to maintain their ratings. [ Travelling troubadours, balladeers and story tellers were probably how pre-television parents and their children managed to survive (each other) long enough to become our ancestors. ]
See this AGNES OF ROME site for some discussion of the process.
A rectangular tomb (niche) dug into gallery walls of a
catacomb to hold one Christian body.
[? usual size = 6 feet x 2 feet x 2 1/2 feet ?]
A bisomus contained two and a triculus three bodies.
mentions a "pious matron Lucina" and "Christian matron" as owning at
least two separate cemeteries. And yet a third, the nucleus of
which was formed around her crypt from the end of the first
century. All are Christian catacomb (versus cemetery)
references. A biography for Saint Lucina hasn't been found.
The term may have been the clandestine code used to signify one among
many wealthy Christian matrons providing burial resources or as the
destination within those resources where 'special' activities were
concentrated. (See Irene.)
Together with the Region of Miltiades, these were linked to the Calixtus
complex after Christianity became legal in order to facilitate
passage of pilgrims from the Crypt of the Popes to the tomb of Pope-Saint
Cornelius and other sites. Lucina is also referenced at:
- "... SMARAGDUS, CYRIACUS und LARGUS"
- references the early age of the Crypts of Lucina in the Calixtus catacomb.
Basilica in Trastevere: ?Predecessor? to St. Peter in Vatican City and site of a secret chapel during 3rd century persecutions. A Christian killed because of his or her faith; derived from the Greek term for witness. One of the earliest historical accounts involves that of SS. Perpetua and Felicity (180 ~ March 7th, 203), both of whom are indicated in the historically priceless Depositio Martyrum, who both also appear in another account of their martyrdom in Carthage, Tunisia (deadlink www.erols.com site) - probably on March 7th, 203. (The only other "Africae" reference on the aforementioned Depositio Martyrum is Cypriani. The names Secundi and Saturnini appear in both the Depositio Martyrum and a martyrology but don't have the locational "Africae" associated with their names in the former.)
A thorough discussion of the term MARTYR can be read at and a popular example can be read at the AGNES OF ROME site. (StateMaster.com Definition)
Many references are to one or another persecution associated with an emperor named Maxentio, MAXENTIOU, Maximiani, Maximiano, Maximianum, MAX, etc. When Galerieo, Galerii or Galerio is attached to Maximiani or Maximiano, we can presume the Emperor is Galerius (293~311). Maxentio appears related only to Emperor Maxentius (306-312). Click here to see a pop-up file of all the Maxim...s Table used as an alter during services for martyrs (in the ancient catacombs of Rome both before and after Christianity was legalized). has a site providing various origins and derivations of names. This is the clearly defined, circular or square, glowing cloud surrounding a person's head that signifies their holiness - most often seen in religious paintings, murals or mosaics. It signifys the artist's proof and acknowledgement of saints represented graphically but maybe not in accompanying narratives. The picture of St. Laurence, Almoner of St. Cyriaca referenced in sections 62 and 76 and facing page 97 of the Chandlery 'Pilgrim-Walks in Rome' book shows both Laurence and a seated woman behind him nimbused - both saints and implying that the woman is St. Cyriaca. Figure of a praying person found painted on the walls of some catacomb crypts representing the Christian faithful.
They are discussed at this link and listed in chronological order here.
As in, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd piano (sub-level) of a catacomb. Decorative pseudo-column projecting from a wall. These are found in many of the more ostentatious crypts of the catacombs. A solid crystalline facia creating a sparkling effect. . Which came first: the cemetery of Priscilla or the tomb of Prisca therein? Which, of course, is at the heart of what these various cemeteries were called before 313 when the practice of Christianity was illegal. Could the ancient Christians have been pulling a fast one on the Empire by burying a martyr in the already named Priscilla (it seems most cemeteries were named after 'non-Christian' females from wealthy Roman families) so that it meant one thing to them and another to the pagans?! A service of intercession for the dead held before the tombs or relics of the martyr. What comes to mind is a 'picnic' at the grave site - which makes sense given the length of time it would take groups to walk to the site, gain access thereto and then make the return trip, especially if small children were brought along. But, it seems also having to do with emulating the 'ceremony' of the Last Supper. Benches (pews) were built into the sides of the walls of some crypts to accomodate this religious rite. Transenna (railings) were also added when the throngs of pilgrims threatened the integrity of the mensa (altar) and other accouterments which, with the refrigeria all became part of the long honored Latin Mass - the type which this webmaster attended Sunday through Friday every week from 1950 to 1957 as part of his parochial school education. Relics (Latin) and leipsana (Greek) - Part of the body or clothing memorializing a departed saint. A coffin made of stone or marble, usually with elaborate carvings. The Great Cave (of Praextextatus cemetery), which has wide passageways accommodating numerous visitors. Unlike the narrower galleries of other Christian catacombs, it was apparently designed that way before Christian times. In other cases, widened passageways were the result of Pope-Saint Damasus' redevelopment work. Bodies were moved, sometimes to mass graves, to accomplish the widening. Thermis means baths - specifically the Baths of Diocletian (good pictures site) where the martyrdom of our Saint Cyriacus et al occurred.
Balustrades placed in front of popular tombs to protect them from the normal pushing and shoving of large crowds of visiting pilgrims. (These are the low railings where people go to kneel or stand for communion at Catholic Masses - the entire Mass is a duplication of the ceremonies began with the veneration of pilgrims at the tombs of the saints buried in the catacombs.) This is the volcanic compacted earth in and around Rome that makes digging catacombs easier than what would be possible in areas where volcanic activity has been absent for millions of years. Emperor from 253 ~ 260 and instigator of what may have been the next most severe persecution before the FINAL one begun in 303. A National Geographic map (July 1997) - The Roman Empire - A.D. 235-284 places him as: "The only Roman emperor to be taken prisoner, Valerian was captured by Persians at Edessa (Sanliurfa, Turkey) in 260 and died in Captivity." Contains archives and other valuable resources. Possible site where Julius Caesar's Septa Julia was built, upon which the 4th century, plus, convent of St. Cyriacus was sited. The relics and other artifacts of the latter were moved to the nearby convent of Santa Maria in Via Lata which ?still? faces the Corso running from piazza Venezia outward to the Piazza del Popolo circle. [ The Corso is said to be the most popular street in Rome. ] (See Caelian (Coelian) Hill.)
Roman & associated web sites:
- Ancient Rome - Starting place for serious researchers
- Ancient Rome & Holy Land Christian History www.newadvent.org
- International Catacomb Society glossary
- Pictures (modern)
- M A P S: 50 sectors Hangouts Rome streets (Vias) Subways
- TOURIST INFORMATION: Destination Rome
