Saints Nereus and Achilleus
Martyrs
- Feast Day
- May 12
- Life
- d. 304
Saints Nereus and Achilleus are early Roman martyrs whose veneration is firmly attested by the late fourth century. Their tomb in the cemetery of Domitilla on the Via Ardeatina was renovated by Pope Saint Damasus I (366-384), who composed for it an elegant epigram preserved in his collection. According to that inscription, Nereus and Achilleus were soldiers who, having been moved by faith, suddenly cast aside their cruel office, abandoning their commander's camp.
The Basilica of Saints Nereus and Achilleus on the Via Appia in Rome, originally a fourth-century titulus, was rebuilt by Pope Leo III about 800 and restored by Cardinal Cesare Baronio in 1597. The relics of the two martyrs rest there beneath the high altar.
Their feast appears in the early Roman Sacramentaries on May 12, the day of the dedication of their basilica. The post-Vatican II General Roman Calendar retains them as an Optional Memorial.
The witness of Nereus and Achilleus, recorded in the Damasian inscription, is a paradigm of conscience: soldiers who recognized that they could no longer serve two masters. Their cult exemplifies the Roman Church's careful preservation, through Pope Damasus, of the historical memory of the martyrs in the catacombs.
Catholic Churches Named After Saints Nereus and Achilleus
1 parish on Catholic Church Times share Saints Nereus and Achilleus's name. Find their Mass times, confession schedules, and adoration hours:
- Sts. Nereus and Achilleus — Neche, ND
Sources