Hermagoras of Aquileia

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Saint Hermagoras of Aquileia
Hermagoras and Fortunatus
Died traditionally ~70 AD, but probably third or fourth century, Aquileia
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Feast July 12
Attributes depicted as bishop
Patronage Aquileia, Udine
Saints Portal

Saint Hermagoras of Aquileia, also spelled Hermenagoras, Hermogenes, Ermacoras) (Italian: Sant'Ermagora; died c. 70 AD) is considered the first bishop of Aquileia, northern Italy. Christian tradition states that he was chosen by Saint Mark to serve as the leader of the nascent Christian community in Aquileia, and that he was consecrated bishop by Saint Peter. Hermagoras and his deacon Fortunatus evangelized the area but were eventually arrested by Sebastius, a representative of Nero. They were tortured and beheaded.

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[edit] Veneration

Statue of Hermagoras in the city of Hermagor.
Statue of Hermagoras in the city of Hermagor.
SS Ermagora and Fortunato's church-belfry, Lorenzago di Cadore, Veneto, Italy.
SS Ermagora and Fortunato's church-belfry, Lorenzago di Cadore, Veneto, Italy.

"Hermagoras" was always listed as the name of the first bishop of Aquileia. Hermagoras was probably a bishop or lector of the second half of the third century or at the beginnings of the fourth.[1]

However, because the name or origins of the very first bishop was not known, Aquileian traditions, arising in the eighth century, made Hermagoras a bishop of the apostolic age, who had been consecrated by Saint Peter himself.[2] As Hippolyte Delehaye writes, "To have lived amongst the Saviour's immediate following was...honorable...and accordingly old patrons of churches were identified with certain persons in the gospels or who were supposed to have had some part of Christ's life on earth."[1] Thus, false apostolic origins were ascribed to Hermagoras and the church at Aquileia. The tradition that Fortunatus was Hermagoras' deacon is also probably apocryphal, but a Christian named Fortunatus may have been a separate martyr at Aquileia.[3]

Hermagoras and Fortunatus may have been martyrs of Singidunum (Belgrade) who were killed there around 304 AD during the persecutions of Diocletian.[4] Hermagoras, or Hermogenes, was a lector of Singidunum and Fortunatus was a deacon. Their relics may have been brought to Aquileia a century later, and that city became the center of their cult. And it was at Aquileia that their apostolic origins were created.[5] Aquileia was one of the first cities in which the Christianity could be practiced unhindered; the Patriarch of Aquileia was after the bishop of Rome the second most important man of the church.[6]

Their feast day was recorded as July 12, which is recorded in the Roman Martyrology, the Church of Aquileia, and in other Churches. However, Venantius Fortunatus does not mention Hermagoras in his works, but mentions the name of Fortunatus twice: once in a life of Saint Martin: Ac Fortunati benedictam urnam, and the second time in his Miscellanea: Et Fortunatum fert Aquileiam suum.[7] The Martyrologium Hieronymianum mentions Hermagoras, but in corrupted form: Armageri, Armagri, Armigeri. However, there is additional confusion, as the Martyrologium Hieronymianum also lists "sanctorum Fortunate Hermogenis" under August 22 or 23.[8] The Bollandists considered this simply a repetition of the same saints. [9] However, the cult of Saint Felix and Saint Fortunatus of Aquileia were also mentioned in calendars for August 14.[10]

Hermagoras featured on the coat-of-arms of Hermagor
Hermagoras featured on the coat-of-arms of Hermagor

Hermagoras' name survives in the Carinthian city of Hermagor. His cult was also popular in Udine, Gorizia and Gurk. The basilica of Aquileia today contains four mosaics that date from the beginning of the 4th century, one of which depicts Hermagoras and Saint Peter.[11]

[edit] References

  • Delehaye, Hippolyte (1955). The Legends of the Saints. Dublin: Four Courts Press, p. 37. .

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Santi Ermagora e Fortunato di Aquileia
  2. ^ Santi Ermagora e Fortunato di Aquileia
  3. ^ Saints of July 12
  4. ^ Hermagoras Und Fortunatus
  5. ^ Hermagoras Und Fortunatus
  6. ^ Hermagoras - Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon
  7. ^ Santi Ermagora e Fortunato di Aquileia
  8. ^ Santi Ermagora e Fortunato di Aquileia
  9. ^ Santi Ermagora e Fortunato di Aquileia
  10. ^ Santi Ermagora e Fortunato di Aquileia
  11. ^ Hermagoras - Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon

[edit] External links