Adauctus
Adauctus is traditionally venerated as a Christian martyr who suffered during the Great Persecution under Emperor Diocletian. According to legend, he was an unknown individual who joined the priest Felix on the way to execution, professing Christianity and receiving the "added" name Adauctus. He is chiefly remembered for his martyrdom alongside Felix.
- Century
- 4th century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Adauctus was martyred in 303 during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
- ›According to legend, he was an unknown person who joined Felix on the way to execution.
- ›He professed Christianity and was given the name Adauctus, meaning "added".
- ›Felix and Adauctus were both beheaded.
- ›Their veneration is very old and is recorded in the Sacramentary of Gregory the Great and ancient martyrologies.
- ›A church built over their graves in the catacomb of Commodilla in Rome was discovered and unearthed in modern times.
Added
About Adauctus
Adauctus is traditionally venerated as a Christian martyr who, alongside Saint Felix, is said to have suffered during the Great Persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian around 303 AD.
Life and Martyrdom
According to the hagiographical accounts known as the Acts, Felix, a Roman priest, was ordered to offer sacrifice to pagan gods. When he refused, he was brought before the prefect Dracus. At Felix's prayer, the idols in the temples of Serapis, Mercury, and Diana are said to have fallen and shattered. Felix was then led to execution. On the way, an unknown person joined him, proclaimed himself a Christian, and also accepted martyrdom. The Christians present named this individual Adauctus, derived from the Latin word for "added," reflecting his spontaneous joining of Felix's fate. Both were subsequently beheaded.
Historical Context and Legend
Modern scholarship views the Acts concerning Felix and Adauctus as legendary embellishments, possibly stemming from a misunderstood inscription by Pope Damasus. Historical records do not support the existence of a prefect named Dracus in Rome. Furthermore, the "other Felix" mentioned in the legend is likely identifiable as St. Felix of Nola, and the supposed brother of Felix is considered an imaginary figure.
Veneration
The veneration of Felix and Adauctus is ancient, with their feast days recorded in the Sacramentary of Gregory the Great and in early martyrologies. A church dedicated to them was built over their presumed graves in the catacomb of Commodilla, located on the Via Ostiensis in Rome, near the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. This church was restored by Pope Leo III and was rediscovered and unearthed in modern times. Pope Leo IV is reported to have given their relics to Irmengard, the wife of Lothair I, who placed them in the abbey of canonesses at Eschau in Alsace. Their relics have also been brought to other locations, including the church of St. Stephen in Vienna in 1361, with their heads claimed by Anjou and Cologne. According to the "Chronicle of Andechs," Henry, the last count, received relics from Pope Honorius III and brought them to the Abbey of Andechs.
Artistic Depiction
The painter Carlo Innocenzo Carlone (1686–1775) created "The Glorification of Saints Felix and Adauctus" between 1759 and 1761, which was commissioned for the cupola of the church of San Felice del Benaco on Lake Garda.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Felix and Adauctus?
Felix and Adauctus were Christian martyrs traditionally believed to have suffered during the Great Persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. Felix was a priest, and Adauctus was an unknown individual who joined Felix on his way to execution and professed Christianity.
What is the origin of the name Adauctus?
According to the traditional Acts, Adauctus was a name given by Christians to an unknown person who joined Felix on the way to martyrdom. The name Adauctus is derived from the Latin word for "added," signifying that he was added to Felix on the path to martyrdom.
What is the historical basis for Felix and Adauctus?
Modern scholarship suggests that the "Acts" detailing the martyrdom of Felix and Adauctus may be a legendary embellishment of a misunderstood inscription by Pope Damasus. Historical figures and details within the legend are debated, with some suggesting the other Felix mentioned is St. Felix of Nola and questioning the existence of Prefect Dracus.
Where were Felix and Adauctus venerated?
Their veneration is very old, recorded in the Sacramentary of Gregory the Great and ancient martyrologies. A significant church was built over their graves in the catacomb of Commodilla in Rome, on the Via Ostiensis, near the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
Are there any relics of Felix and Adauctus?
According to tradition, Pope Leo IV gave their relics to Irmengard, wife of Lothair I, who placed them in an abbey in Alsace. Other relics, including heads, are claimed by Anjou and Cologne, and the Chronicle of Andechs states Henry, the last count, received relics from Pope Honorius III and brought them to the Abbey of Andechs.
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Ansanus
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