Saint Aureus and Saint Justina
Bishop of Mainz and his virgin sister
Bishop of Mainz in the 5th century, Aureus was driven out by the Huns before returning to rebuild his city. He was massacred at the altar with his sister Justina by Arian heretics in 451. Their bodies, found intact and bloodstained centuries later, are honored by numerous miracles.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
S. AUREUS, BISHOP OF MAINZ, ST. JUSTINA, HIS SISTER, AND THEIR COMPANIONS, MARTYRS (451).
Invasions and exile
In the 5th century, Bishop Aureus of Mainz and his sister Justina were forced into exile by the incursions of the Huns and the persecution of the Arians.
At the time when the Huns were infesting the provinces along the Rhine with their incursions, and, animated by the fury of the Arian heresy, were bringing trouble and desolation everywhere into the Catholic churches, Aureu s, Bi Aurée Bishop of Mainz in the 5th century, martyr for the Catholic faith against Arianism. shop of Mainz, very famous for his holiness as well as his doctrine, was driven from his see and exiled from his episcopal city. His siste r Justi Justine Sister of Saint Aureus and a consecrated virgin, martyred with him. na, a virgin consecrated to God, followed him, as did several other persons devoted to the Catholic faith. The Barbarians razed the city and dispersed the faithful, and, when the prelate returned, he found nothing but ruins to rebuild. This was the occupation to which he devoted the final years of his episcopate.
Martyrdom and Carolingian translation
Upon returning to Mainz, Aureus and Justina are massacred at the altar by the Arians; their bodies are later transferred to the monastery of Saint Alban under Charlemagne.
The Arians could not endure the sight of a Catholic church being reborn to a new life. They attacked the prelate as he was at the altar, massacred him with his sister, and threw their corpses into a nearby well. They remained buried there under a heap of rubble until the reign of Charlemagne, at which time the Archbi Charlemagne Emperor of the Franks and uncle of Saint Folquin. shop of Cologne, Ricolf, had them carried to the mona Ricolphe Archbishop of Cologne who oversaw the translation of saints' relics. stery of Saint Alban , which he had just buil monastère de Saint-Alban Monastery built by Ricolphe where the relics were deposited. t. They were placed there with honor.
Rediscovery and miracles
Forgotten over time, the bodies of the saints were rediscovered intact during renovation work, manifesting their holiness through miracles.
In the course of time, their tombs were forgotten. But it happened that the worn paving stones of the monastery were renewed; then, among other holy bodies, those of Saint Aureu s and Saint saint Aurès Bishop of Mainz in the 5th century, martyr for the Catholic faith against Arianism. Justina were found. They were still covered in blood, perfectly preserved, and very beautiful. God, moreover, honored them with numerous miracles and supernatural healings of all kinds.
Source
Mention of the liturgical origin of the text linked to the proper of the diocese of Mainz.
Proper of Mainz.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Exile from Mainz following the Hun incursions
- Return to Mainz to rebuild the ruins of the city
- Massacred at the altar by the Arians
- Bodies thrown into a well
- Translation of relics under Charlemagne by Archbishop Ricolphe
- Discovery of the bodies during the repaving of the Saint-Alban monastery
Miracles
- Perfect preservation of the bodies found covered in blood
- Supernatural healings of all kinds at the tombs