| DEPOSITIO MARTYRUM |
|---|
The Depositio Martyrum section of the much larger and broader Liber pontificalis (Book of the Popes) is a cumulative listing of the martyrs identified to have been buried or made reference to in the catacombs of Rome and elsewhere. The inscriptions and accompanying identifiers were found as the various underground burial sites were discovered and dug out after Christianity became legal. The broader work involved the administrations of Popes Sylvester I (314~335), Marcus (336~336), Julius I (337~352) and Liberius (352~366) - Liberius being the last named Pope in the initial publication since it was published in the 2nd year of his Papacy in 354. It was continued, updated, corrected and formalized by Pope Damasus I (366~383), who was one of the prime "movers and shakers" during the administrations of his predecessors. The initial preparation took from 314 through 354 and is still being updated with new discoveries to this day - 16 centuries later!
The initial cataloging, calendering and validating process became necessary when Emperor Constantine I (306~337) gave to the Church of Rome TITLES to the various Christian meeting places extant before or at the beginning of the 4th century when the FINAL Great Persecution began. That was when all things Christian, especially in Rome, were confiscated (by the Empire or by citizens with permission of the Empire) or obliterated beyond recognition, including the Christians themselves who, had they been alive, could have helped complete the process in less than the four decades it took non-witnesses to do so without them.
In other words, the Church could own everything it could identify as having been a pre-4th century Christian meeting place; whether a church-home, cemetery, catacomb or otherwise. But, since the edifices, documents and leaders knowing of their existence were all destroyed, the inscriptions in the catacombs and word of mouth or other social commemorations through annual iturgical reunions provided the only 'for real' evidence of their existence. Some discovery may have been facilitated by presuming that any ruins still extant were what was left of a Christian church-home, but the catacombs were another matter. Not all of them were Christian. So, a lot of the discovery of sites, digging out of the fill used to hide the tombs and discovery and interpretation of the pre-Latin inscriptions in them had to be accomplished before it could be proven that they were indeed Christian, and therefore, belonged to the Church.
The epitaph to Cyriacus, et al, may have been lost, relocated or destroyed - but maybe not before someone else copied it. It may be from whence the legends regarding he and the others came. If so, it can be given more credence thereby. The dedications by Damasus didn't generally go into much detail about the martyrdoms, indicating both his credibility in being unwilling to 'fabricate' legends and the enhanced credibility of any details which were provided by him. In other words, Damasus may have assigned degrees of validity to the 1st, 2nd or 3rd hand testimony gathered regarding the various martyrdoms and was unwilling to pass along those he considered too tenuous. Given that his adminstration undoubtedly involved dozens if not hundreds of others, some of them may be the source for other 'verbal legends' passed along, gathering more fantastic detail in each retelling, until by the 6th century or so, they become almost unbelievable.
A listing for November 24th has St. Crescentian of Rome (deadlink www.erols.com site) dying in 309 "in the company of Saints Cyriacus, Largus, Smaragdus".
It's noteworthy that Laurenti doesn't reflect "in Cyriaca"; especially when it seems that Damasus (Pope 366~83), a logically presumed author of this list, appears to have known about her. He had "formal epitaphs" dedicated to each of these martyrs prepared and placed while he was Pope after having been the Superintendent of the Church Cemeteries for his predecessor, Pope Liberius (352~66). The laudation to the wealthy Dasumian Cyriaca found near the Crypt of the Popes in Calixtus was undoubtedly prepared by Damasus but not associated by him to the cemetery and catacomb of Cyriaca Another mystery!?
Ipoliti is Hippolytus the Bishop, who has an epitaph from Damasus in the cemetery now called by his name instead of "in Tiburtina". Both of the sole references to "in Tiburtina" appear above in August - the other, of course, being the most famous Laurenti or Lawrence. (HippolytusInChairImage)
represents Jesus Christ's birth and appears first as:
VIII kal. ianu.--Natus Christus in Bethlehem Iudeae. The rest of the list appears in month order from ianu/January through dec/December.
St. Peter's Chair ('the Rock upon which ...') represents the Church
itself and appears 4th as:
VIII kal. mart.--Natale Petri de Cathedra.
Non-Rome based martyrs appear as:
Non.mart.--Perpetuae et Felicitatis Africae.
XVIII kal. octob--
Cypriani Africae -- Romae celebratur in Callisti.
There were quite obviously many more martyrs outside of Rome.
The reason only these are included in the listing is unknown, but may be
because they are the only ones to whom 'identifiable pre-4th century'
dedications were found in the catacombs of Rome.
Abdon and Sennen were noble Persians, thought to have been martyred by Valerian around , who were buried in the Cemetery of Pontian near where St. Maria in Trastevere is now located. That's not Pope Pontian (230-5) but another individual who owned the property associated with the infamous 'church versus tavern' controversy at the beginning of the 3rd century.
The only consular references used in the list are:
XIII kal.iun.--Partheni et Caloceri in Callisti Diocletiano VIIII et
Maximiano VIII conss. [a.304].
III kal.iul.--Petri in catacumbas et Pauli Ostense, Tusco et Basso
conss. [a. 258]. (another
reference)
X kal.octob.--Basillae Salaria Vetere Diocletiano VIIII et
Maximiano VIII conss. [a. 304].
Tusco et Basso are unfound ?emperors? in my research, but both Peter
and Paul are first century Apostles. Basillae Salaria Vetere is
another mystery, because it's either redundant with
V kal. sept.--Hermetis in Basillae Salaria Vetere.
or appears to indicate that Basillae, presumably also
buried in Basillae on the "Old Via Salaria" (Salaria Vetere), is not the
same martyr also called Hermetis.
An otherwise unreferenced bit of intelligence is the term used in both
and the other shown above. These highlight the usage of the term "catacumbas" regarding the cemetery that eventually came to be called St. Sebastian. Not having another person's name associated with it as early as the middle of the 4th century, even then it was referred to by its locale - "in catacumbas."
The names of the martyrs are tentatively summarized here until an English translation and/or interpretation of the listing is discovered. The .. before a name indicates someone known to be a Pope and/or martyr but not appearing on the list. Otherwise, the number is the consecutive position of that name on the list. Many of the names of the Popes buried in the Crypt of the Popes are not included among the 50 - indicating that it had yet to be found when the list was prepared. (That means that the full impact of the REALLY INTENSE PERSECUTIONS occurring in the middle of the 3rd century were not known to those involved with the cemetery site rehabilitation work. It must have hit them like a ton of bricks when the Crypt of the Popes was re-discovered within the next couple decades!)
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| Nr | Name | Site referenced | Tentative translation | Persecution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natus Christus | Bethlehem | 0-Christ's Birth | |
| 5 | Natale Petri de Cathedra | 0-The Church Of Rome | ||
| 2 | Fabiani | Callisti(inscription) | PopeFabian (236~250) | 7-Decius |
| . | Cornelius | CallistusSepAreaInscrip | PopeCornelius(251~253) | |
| . | Lucius I | CallistusInscription | PopeLucius I (253~254) | |
| . | Stephen I | CallistusInscription | PopeStephen I(254~257) | |
| 3 | Sebastiani | catacumbas | Sebastian(290+soldiers) | 10-Diocletian |
| 4 | Agnetis | Nomentana (AgnesCem) | Agnes (or 7-Decius) | 8-Valerian? |
| 6 | Perpetuae | Africae (Carthage) | Pepetua&Felicity(180~203) | 5-Severus |
| 7 | Felicitatis | Africae (Carthage) | Pepetua&Felicity(180~203) | 5-Severus |
| 8 | Partheni | Callisti | Partenius&Calocer(304) | 10-Diocletian |
| 9 | Caloceri | Callisti | Parteni&Calocerus(304) | 10-Diocletian |
| 10 | Petri | catacumbas (Apostle) | PopePeter (032~067) | 1-Nero |
| . | Linus | ?not a martyr? | PopeLinus (067~076) | |
| . | Alexander I | ?not a martyr? | PopeAlexander(105~115) | ?Trajan? |
| . | Xysti I | ?not a martyr? | PopeSixtus I (115~125) | 3-Hadrian |
| . | Telesphorus | ?not a martyr? | PopeTelephorus125~135) | Hadrian |
| . | Hyginus | PopeHyginus (136~140) | Antoninus Pius | |
| . | Pius I | PopePius I (140~155) | Antoninus Pius | |
| . | Anicetus | PopeAnicetus (155~166) | 4-Marcus Aurelius | |
| . | Soter | PopeSoter (166~175) | 4-Marcus Aurelius | |
| . | Eleutherius | ?not a martyr? | PopeEleutheri(175~189) | Commodus |
| 11 | Pauli | Ostense | Apostle Paul | 1-Nero |
| 12? | Felicitas? | Maximi | FelicitasPresumed(latin?) | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 13 | Felicis | Priscillae | FelicitaSon-Felix | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 14 | Philippi | Priscillae | FelicitaSon-Philip | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 15 | Martialis | Iordanorum | FelicitaSon-Martial | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 16 | Vitalis | Iordanorum | FelicitaSon-Vitalis | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 17 | Alexandri | Iordanorum | FelicitaSon-Alexander | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 18 | Silani | Maximi | FelicitaSon-S?????? | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 19 | Ianuari | Praetextati | FelicitaSon-Januarius1st | 4-Marcus Aurelius |
| 20 | Abdon | Pontiani | Abdon&Sennen-Persians | 8-Valerian |
| 21 | Sennen | Pontiani | Abdon&Sennen-Persians | 8-Valerian |
| 22 | Xysti (ii) | Callisti | PopeSixtus II(257~258) | 8-Valerian |
| . | Dionysius | CallistusInscription | PopeDionysius(259~268) | |
| . | Felix I | CallistusInscription | PopeFelix I (269~274) | 9 Aurelian |
| . | Eutychian | CallistusInscription | PopeEutychian(275~283) | |
| . | Caius | CallistusInscription | PopeCaius (283~296) | |
| . | Marcellinus | (Priscillae) | PopeMarcellinu296~304) | |
| . | Marcellus I | CallistusSepArea | PopeMarcellusI308~309) | |
| . | Eusebius | CallistusInscription | PopeEusebius (310~310) | |
| . | Miltiades | CallistusSepArea? | PopeMiltiades(311~314) | |
| 23 | Agapiti | Praetestati | SixtusDeacon(8/6/258) | 8-Valerian |
| 24 | Felicissimi | Praetestati | SixtusDeacon(8/6/258) | 8-Valerian |
| 25 | Secundi | Albano | ||
| 26 | Carpophori | Albano | ||
| 27 | Victorini | Albano | ?PopeVictor I (189~199)? | 5-SeptimuSeverus |
| . | Zephyrinus | ?not a martyr? | PopeZephyrinus199~217) | Macrinus |
| . | Urban I | ?not a martyr? | PopeUrban I (223~230) | SeverusAlexander |
| 28 | Severiani | Albano ?Zephyrinus? | ||
| 29 | Cyriaci | Ostense VII Ballistaria | CyriacusEtAl | 10-Diocletian |
| 30 | Largi | Ostense VII Ballistaria | CyriacusEtAl | 10-Diocletian |
| 31 | Crescentiani | Ostense VII Ballistaria | CyriacusEtAl | |
| 32 | Memmiae | Ostense VII Ballistaria | CyriacusEtAl | |
| 33 | Iulianae | Ostense VII Ballistaria | CyriacusEtAl | |
| 34 | Smaragdi | Ostense VII Ballistaria | CyriacusEtAl | 10-Diocletian |
| 35 | Laurenti | Tiburtina | Lawrence(258) | |
| 36 | Ipoliti | Tiburtina | BishopHippolytus(235) | |
| 37 | Pontiani | Callisti(inscription) | PopePontian (230-235) | 6-Maximin |
| . | Anterus | CallistusInscription | PopeAnterus (235~236=40days) | |
| 38 | Timotei | Ostense | ?2 Timothy 4:21? May22-(?W/ApostlePaul?) | |
| 39 | Hermetis | BasillaeSalariaVetere | Hermes(c2.. Greek) | |
| 40 | Aconti | Ponti | ?PopeAnacletus(076~088)? | |
| 41 | Nonni | Taurini | ||
| 42 | Herculani | Taurini | ||
| 43 | Gorgoni | Lavicana | Gorgonius(Peter&Marcellinus) | |
| 44 | Proti | Basillae(SalariaVetere) | Protus&Hyacinth(257~8) | 8-Valerian |
| 45 | Iacinti | Basillae(SalariaVetere) | Protus&Hyacinth(257~8) | 8-Valerian |
| 46 | Cypriani | Callisti,Africae(inscr) | BishopCyprian(248~58) | 8-Valerian |
| 47 | Basillae | Salaria Vetere | Bassilla(304) | |
| 48 | Callisti | via AureliaMilliarioIII | PopeCallistus(218~222) | |
| 49 | Clementi | Comitatum | ?PopeClementI (088~097)? | |
| 50 | Semproniani | Comitatum | ||
| 51 | Claudi | Comitatum | ||
| 52 | Nicostrati | Comitatum | ||
| 53 | Saturnini | Trasonis | CyriacusEtAl | 10-Diocletian |
| 54 | Ariston | in portum ?Porto? | ?PopeEvaristus(097~105)? |
- 2-Domitian 91~ 95 John Domitilla(Nereus&Achilleus) AciliusGlabrio
- .-Trajan 98~117 Ignatius
- 3-Hadrian 117~138 (no names in Marucchi book)
- 5-Severus 193~211 (no names in Marucchi book)
- 7-Decius 249~251 Calocerus & Partenius Saturnius(France)
- 8-Valerian253~260 Sixtus Stephen Tarcisius Hippolytus(?DrPriestOfRome?) Pancratius(&10-Diocletian)
- 9-ClaudiusII&Aurelian 269~270? Valentine AgapitusOfPalestrina
- 10-Diocletn290~310 Marcellinus Peter&Marcellinus CastulusEutychius&Candida SimpliciusFaustinus&Beatrice Soter Felix&Adauctus Marcellus
