Saint Celsus
Saint Celsus (died c. 57 AD in Milan, Lombardy, Italy) was a young boy martyr who was put to death in Milan with Saint Nazarius. According to the tradition preserved by Saint Ambrose, who discovered their bodies in Milan in 395 AD, Celsus was a young Christian who accompanied the Roman citizen Nazarius on his missionary journeys and was beheaded with him. His feast day is July 28.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Celsus
| Saint Celsus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 28 |
| Profession | Young Christian layman; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Patronage | Milan (in part, with Nazarius) |
| Attributes | Palm of martyrdom; youth's attire; with Nazarius |
| Birthplace | Milan, Lombardy, Italy (probable) |
| Death Place | Milan, Lombardy, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beheaded with Saint Nazarius |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo, Milan, Italy — where their relics were transferred by Saint Ambrose |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (with Saint Nazarius) |
| Historic Class | July 28 |
Biography
Saint Celsus was a young Christian who accompanied the martyr Nazarius (a Roman citizen who had traveled through Gaul and Italy preaching the Gospel) on his missionary journeys. Both were eventually seized by Roman authorities in Milan. Nazarius was beheaded; Celsus died with him.
Their bodies were buried outside Milan. In 395 AD, Saint Ambrose, then Archbishop of Milan, was led in a vision to discover the tombs of the two martyrs in a garden outside the city walls. He translated their relics with great ceremony to the Basilica of the Apostles (now Basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo) in Milan, which became their principal shrine. The blood of Nazarius was found still fresh and fragrant — a phenomenon Ambrose himself described — confirming the church's veneration of the two saints.
They are commemorated together on July 28.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Milan, Lombardy, Italy (probable)
Death location: Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Notable location: City where he and Nazarius were martyred; their bodies were discovered by Saint Ambrose in 395 AD (Milan, Lombardy, Italy)
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Parishes
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Media
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Basilica of San Nazaro in Brolo, Milan — the church where Saint Ambrose enshrined the relics of Nazarius and Celsus; still an active parish in Milan.
Feast day
July 28
Veneration
Saint Celsus is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on July 28 (Optional Memorial, shared with Saint Nazarius).
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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