Nicomedes
Nicomedes was a Roman martyr of unknown era, venerated for his faith and burial in a catacomb on the Via Nomentana. His feast day is observed on September 15th, and he is remembered as a martyr of the Roman Church.
- Feast Day
- September 15
- Century
- 4th century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Nicomedes was a martyr of the Roman Church.
- ›His feast day is observed on September 15th.
- ›He was buried in a catacomb on the Via Nomentana.
- ›A titular church in Rome was dedicated to him.
- ›Legend places his death at the end of the first century or the beginning of the fourth century.
- ›He is noted for assisting martyrs and interring their bodies.
About Nicomedes
Saint Nicomedes
Saint Nicomedes is recognized as a martyr of the Roman Church, though the exact era of his martyrdom is unknown. His feast day is traditionally observed on September 15. He was interred in a catacomb situated on the Via Nomentana, near the gate of the same name.
Historical Context and Legend
The Roman Martyrologium, along with the historical martyrologies of Bede and his followers, consistently places Nicomedes' feast on September 15. The Gregorian Sacramentary also contains orations for his Mass on this date. While the name of Nicomedes does not appear in the three oldest and most significant manuscripts of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, it was later incorporated into subsequent versions. This indicates a gradual but established veneration within the Roman Church.
Legends surrounding Nicomedes offer varying accounts of his death. One tradition, found in the martyrdom of Nereus and Achilleus, identifies him as a presbyter and places his death at the close of the first century. According to this legend, he was apprehended during the persecution under Domitian for his diligent efforts in aiding martyrs and burying their bodies. Other recensions of his martyrdom attribute the death sentence to Emperor Maximianus, placing his death in the early fourth century.
Veneration and Legacy
Three seventh-century itineraries explicitly mention the location of Nicomedes' grave. Pope Adrian I undertook the restoration of the church that had been built over his tomb. Furthermore, a titular church in Rome, known as titulus S. Nicomedis, was dedicated to him and is documented from the fifth century. The feast of the dedication of this church, celebrated on June 1, was included in the Sarum Rite calendars alongside the September 15 feast of his martyrdom. The June 1 feast day was later carried over into the Anglican Book of Common Prayer as a 'lesser holy day'.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Saint Nicomedes' feast day?
Saint Nicomedes' feast day is observed on September 15th. This date is noted in the Roman Martyrologium and the historical Martyrologies of Bede and his imitators.
Where was Saint Nicomedes buried?
Saint Nicomedes was buried in a catacomb located on the Via Nomentana, near the gate of that name in Rome. His grave was explicitly referenced in three seventh-century itineraries.
What is known about Saint Nicomedes' death?
Nothing is definitively known about the circumstances of Saint Nicomedes' death. Legends associate him with assisting martyrs and interring their bodies, with some traditions placing his martyrdom at the end of the first century during Domitian's persecution, while others attribute his death sentence to Emperor Maximianus in the early fourth century.
Is Saint Nicomedes a recognized martyr of the Roman Church?
Yes, Saint Nicomedes is without doubt considered a martyr of the Roman Church. His name appears in later recensions of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, and his feast day has been consistently observed.
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