Nazarius

Who they were

The only sure history of Nazarius and his companion Celsus is the finding of their bodies by St. Ambrose. In the last years of his life, after 395, Ambrose found the body of Nazarius in a garden outside the walls of Milan, the head cut off and still stained with blood, and had it carried to the Basilica of the Apostles; he found the body of Celsus in the same garden.

A later legend, without historical basis, sets their martyrdom under Nero and tells of Nazarius's journeys through Gaul and Italy; Paulinus says plainly that the date of his martyrdom is unknown. Their feast is kept on 28 July.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A martyr of Milan whose body was found by St. Ambrose.

Connected on this site

• Nazarius and Celsus Saint honoured together
• Perpetua Saint Parent, Mother