Caesarius of Africa

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Saint Caesarius of Africa was a martyr of the Roman Catholic Church in the 2nd century. The church of San Cesareo in Palatio in Rome bears his name.

[edit] Life

Caesarius was a deacon of Africa, martyred at Terracina in Italy. Caesarius denounced the pagan custom of having one youth per year immolate himself to the demons by jumping off a cliff in honour of the god Apollo. The priest of Apollo had him arrested and taken before the governor. He was sentenced to be sewn into a sack and thrown into the sea. He was martyred together with Julian, a local presbyter.

[edit] Cult

His feast is held on 1 November. In the 4th century, Emperor Valentinian was cured at the shrine of Caesarius at Terracina. The emperor then decided to move his relics to Rome. They were taken to a church on the Palatine Hill, and when they were later moved to a new church near the Appian Way which got the name San Cesareo in Palatio.

[edit] Sources

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