Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus were 3rd-century Christian
saints
In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Anglican, Oriental Orth ...
who suffered
martyrdom
A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In colloqui ...
during the reign of
Caracalla
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Lucius Septimius Bassianus, 4 April 188 – 8 April 217), better known by his nickname Caracalla (; ), was Roman emperor from 198 to 217 AD, first serving as nominal co-emperor under his father and then r ...
. Felix, a
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...
, Fortunatus and Achilleus, both
deacons
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions.
Major Christian denominations, such as the Catholi ...
, were sent by
Irenaeus
Irenaeus ( or ; ; ) was a Greeks, Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christianity, Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by oppos ...
, to
Valence, to convert the locals. It is said that they died .
Legends
Felix, Fortunatus and Achilleus were sent to
Valence, by Saint Irenaeus of Lyon. From a humble lodging wherein they lived a life of much penance they evangelised the town.
They also performed many miracles in the area of
Valence, and through their preaching many people were
converted. This led to their arrest. They were freed from prison, by
angels
An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...
, who told them to destroy all the idols of the temples in
Valence. So Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus, destroyed images of
Mercury,
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant, with an average radius of about 9 times that of Earth. It has an eighth the average density of Earth, but is over 95 tim ...
, and a particularly valuable amber statue of
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the List of Solar System objects by size, largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a Jupiter mass, mass more than 2.5 times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined a ...
. For their actions the three were captured again, had their legs broken, followed by torture on
wheels
A wheel is a rotating component (typically circular in shape) that is intended to turn on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axl ...
. Having survived all of these torments they were
beheaded
Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common c ...
.
Although the individuals themselves may not be entirely legendary, no historical incidents of their lives have been preserved.
Holmes, T. Scott. ''The Origin and Development of the Christian Church in Gaul During the First Six Centuries of the Christian Era'', Mac Millan, 1911, p. 55
/ref>
Veneration
Relic
In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other person preserved for the purpose of veneration as a tangible memorial. Reli ...
s believed to be those of Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus, are venerated in Valencia
Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...
, Spain. There are also supposedly relics of Fortunatus in Sant'Andrea della Valle
Sant'Andrea della Valle is a titular church and minor basilica in the rione of Sant'Eustachio of the city of Rome, Italy. The basilica is the seat of the general curia of the Theatines and is located on the Piazza Vidoni, at the intersection ...
in Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
.
See also
* Other saints Felix
* Other saints Fortunatus
References
External links
Sts. Felix, Fortunatus, & Achilleus
Catholic Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Felix, Fortunatus, And Achilleus
212 deaths
Gallo-Roman saints
3rd-century Christian martyrs
3rd-century Christian clergy
Groups of Christian martyrs of the Roman era
Year of birth unknown
Angelic visionaries