| Saint Hermagoras of Aquileia | |
|---|---|
Hermagoras and Fortunatus |
|
| Died | traditionally ~70 AD, but probably third or fourth century Aquileia or Singidunum (Belgrade) |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | July 12 |
| Attributes | depicted as bishop |
| Patronage | Aquileia, Udine |
Saint Hermagoras of Aquileia (also spelled Hermenagoras, Hermogenes, Ermacoras) (Italian: Sant'Ermagora,Slovene: Sv. Mohor; 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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"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.[4] 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 person of the Western Church.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7] The Bollandists considered this simply a repetition of the same saints.[8] However, the cult of Saint Felix and Saint Fortunatus of Aquileia were also mentioned in calendars for August 14.[9]
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 12th-century frescoes, one of which depicts Hermagoras and Saint Peter.[10]
The parish church in Renče is also dedicated to Saint Hermagoras and Fortunatus. Every second weekend in july there is also a small festival in honor of these two martyrs.