Protus and Hyacinth

For the 2nd-century martyr, see Hyacinth of Caesarea. For the Polish Dominican saint, see Hyacinth of Poland.
Saints Protus and Hyacinth
Saints Protus and Hyacinth
Martyrs
Born3rd century
Diedc. 257–9
Rome
Venerated inCatholic Church, Coptic Orthodox Church and Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrineSan Giovanni dei Fiorentini, as well as the chapel of the Propaganda College. Both in Rome.
FeastSeptember 11 (Roman Catholic Church), December 24 (Byzantine Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches)[1]
AttributesDepicted as two young men, holding the crowns of martyrdom

Saints Protus and Hyacinth were Christian martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Valerian (257–259 AD). Protus' name is sometimes spelled Protatius, Proteus, Prothus, Prote, and Proto. His name was corrupted in England as Saint Pratt. Hyacinth is sometimes called by his Latin name Hyacinthus (in French: Hyacinthe; Spanish: Jacinto; and Italian: Giacinto).

The day of their annual commemoration is mentioned in the "Depositio Martyrum" on September 11, in the chronographia for the year 354.[2] The chronographia also mentions their graves, in the Coemeterium of Basilla on the Via Salaria, later the Catacomb of St. Hermes. The "Itineraries" and other early authorities likewise give this as their place of burial.[3]

  1. ^ Saints, December 24, Justin Popović (in Serbian)
  2. ^ Thierry Ruinart, "Acta martyrum", ed. Ratisbon, 632
  3. ^ De Rossi, "Roma sotterranea", I, 176–177