Saint Chrysanthus and Saint Daria
Martyrs in Rome
Chrysanthus, son of a Roman senator converted to Christianity, transforms the vestal Daria sent to seduce him into a fervent Christian. United by a virginal marriage, they convert many Romans before being arrested under the emperor in 284. They died as martyrs, buried alive near the Porta Salaria in Rome.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT CHRYSANTHUS AND SAINT DARIA,
Youth and conversion of Chrysanthus
Son of a Roman senator born in Egypt, Chrysanthus converted to Christianity in Rome after meeting a Christian sage.
Chrysanthu Chrysanthe Son of a Roman senator, Christian martyr buried alive. s, son of a Roman senator, was born in Eg ypt. W Égypte The place where the legendary meeting between Dismas and the Holy Family takes place. hile still young, he accompanied his father to great Rome, grande Rome Birthplace of Maximian. where his high intelligence was soon appreciated. Convinced of the vanity of idols, he sought, by all means, to know the truth, in order to deliver his soul from the doubts that afflicted it.
An old man was pointed out to him as a sage; Chrysanthus addressed himself to him. The old man, who was a Christian, had no difficulty in opening the eyes of the young neophyte. Once known, the truth was immediately embraced with ardor: Chrysanthus became an apostle. His father was astonished, irritated, and swore to make his son return from what he called his superstitions and errors. Caresses, prayers, threats, everything was put into action; but everything remained useless. Yielding then to the instigations of his relatives, the father of Chrysanthus locked his son in his palace, and set the most dangerous trap for his virtue.
The virginal marriage and the apostolate
Chrysanthus converts Daria, a Vestal Virgin sent to seduce him; they unite in a virginal marriage and convert many Romans.
As those brought to seduce him had failed to shake him, a Vestal Virgin was chosen, equally famous for her charms, her knowledge, and the grace of her eloquence. A priestess of an idol, whose cult was regarded as the safeguard of the empire, Daria deployed all her ar tific Darie Former Vestal Virgin converted by Chrysanthus, her virginal spouse. es to corrupt the young Christian and bring him as a conquest to the altar of the gods; but she herself became the conquest of grace. Chrysanthus and Daria, seeing themselves united by the bonds of faith, hope, and charity, then united themselves by the sacred bonds of a virginal marriage. This resolution set Chrysanthus at liberty and gave him, as well as his chaste wife, the means to continue preaching Jesus Christ. Numerous conversions in the high ranks of society became the fruit of their apostolate; one of the most remarkable was that of the tribune Claudius, with his wife, his two sons, his se rvants, Clendius Roman tribune converted by the saints. and seventy soldiers.
Arrest and martyrdom
Arrested by the prefect Celerinus, the spouses undergo various tortures before being buried alive near the Porta Sodaria.
Complaints are brought to the prefec t Celer Célérin Prefect who ordered the arrest of Chrysanthus and Daria. inus, who has the young spouses arrested. After other tortures, Chrysanthus is locked in the Mamertine prison prison Mamertine Place of detention for the apostles and future martyrs in Rome. , and Daria is exposed in a place of debauchery. The Lord watches over them as He watched over so many others; and they emerge intact and pure. To put an end to it, the irritated emperor condemns them to be buried alive. It is likely that this horrific torture was chosen in order to subject Daria to the type of death reserved for unfaithful Vestals. This conjecture becomes all the more probable as the holy martyrs were made to expire near the Porta Sodaria porte Sodaria Site of the martyrdom, probably the Porta Salaria. , the place designated for the execution of Vestals.
Translation of the relics
The relics of the saints were transferred in the 9th century to the Abbey of Prüm, then to the Abbey of Saint-Avold in the Diocese of Metz.
The principal relics of Chrysanthus and Daria were taken in 842 to the Abbey of Prüm or Pru abbaye de Prum Abbey that received the relics in 842. ym (Rhenish province). Two years later, they were transferred to th e Abbey of Saint-Avol abbaye de Saint-Avold Site of the transfer of relics in the Diocese of Metz. d, in the Diocese of Metz.
Representations and Patronages
Description of the iconographic attributes of the saints and a list of the cities of which they are patrons.
Saint Chrysanthus is represented: 1° Sewn into the skin of a freshly flayed ox, and, in this state, exposed to the sun, so that the tightening of the hide would turn into torture for the one enclosed within; 2° burned with torches; 3° buried alive, with Saint Daria, in a sand pit. As for Saint Daria, she is depicted: 1° enclosed in a place of prostitution where she is defended by a lion ready to spring upon those who wish to violate the virgin's chastity; 2° holding a lily, to signify that she preserved continence in marriage.
They are patrons of Eissel, Reggio-di-Modena, Salzburg, and Oria (Terra d'Otranto Reggio-di-Modena City of which they are the patrons. ).
Mgr Gaxime, Les trois Roms; Fr. Cahier, Caractéri Mgr Gaxime Author cited as a source (likely Mgr Gaume). stiques des Saints.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Conversion of Chrysanthus by an elderly Christian
- Attempted seduction by Daria, a pagan vestal
- Conversion of Daria and virginal marriage
- Conversion of the tribune Claudius and his retinue
- Arrest by Prefect Celerinus
- Ox-hide torture for Chrysanthus
- Daria exposed in a place of debauchery
- Martyrdom by being buried alive near the Sodaria Gate
Miracles
- Protection of Daria by a lion in a place of debauchery
- Emerging unscathed from places of torture