Nazarius and Celsus were martyred under the persecution of Nero, though tradition suggests the precise dates are uncertain. Their Acts recount that Nazarius, a Christian of noble Roman birth, was baptized by Saint Linus, a disciple of Saint Peter, and later confirmed by the Apostle himself. Inflamed with apostolic zeal, Nazarius preached the Gospel in northern Italy and Gaul, accompanied by the youthful Celsus, whom he had baptized.
Their bold proclamation of Christ led to repeated imprisonments and persecutions. They were scourged and exiled from Milan, only to return, undaunted in faith. Ultimately, under Emperor Nero’s edict, they were condemned to death and beheaded in Milan, bearing witness to Christ with heroic constancy. Their bodies were miraculously preserved, and many centuries later, Saint Ambrose discovered their incorrupt relics in Milan, circa A.D. 395. At the discovery, a strong fragrance filled the air, and many miracles were wrought, attesting to their sanctity.
✥ Pope Saint Victor I, Martyr
Reigning from 189 to 199 A.D., Pope Victor I was the fifteenth successor of Saint Peter. An African by origin and the first pope from that region, he governed the Church during a time of growing doctrinal challenges and persecutions. He is especially remembered for his firm efforts to unify the Church’s practice regarding the date of Easter, insisting on the celebration of the Pasch on Sunday throughout the universal Church, contrary to the Quartodeciman practice of some Eastern communities.
He also showed pastoral care by defending the faithful against Gnostic and Montanist heresies and by providing support to confessors in prison. Victor is believed to have suffered martyrdom under Emperor Septimius Severus, dying for the faith he defended. His tomb is traditionally held to be in the Vatican near that of Saint Peter.
✥ Pope Saint Innocent I, Confessor
Pope Innocent I, the 40th Pope, governed the Church from 401 to 417 A.D., during a time of immense turmoil, including the sack of Rome by Alaric in 410. He was born in Albano and was noted for his holiness, clarity in doctrine, and strong governance. Innocent vigorously upheld the primacy of the See of Rome and intervened in ecclesiastical disputes across the Christian world, including Gaul, Spain, and North Africa.
He corresponded with Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Jerome, and other luminaries of his age, confirming the authority of the Roman See in settling theological and disciplinary matters. His firm defense of orthodoxy and the sacred canons, particularly against Pelagianism, fortified the Church during a time of doctrinal instability.
Though not a martyr, he is honored as a Confessor for his unwavering witness to the Faith and his sufferings endured in defense of the Church. He died peacefully in A.D. 417 and was buried in the catacombs along the Via Salaria.
✠ Liturgical Commemoration
In the traditional Roman calendar, July 28th bears the double feast of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, with a commemoration of Saint Victor I, and also, in some local calendars, Saint Innocent I. Their witness stands as a reminder of apostolic zeal, papal steadfastness, and the unbroken succession of faith and discipline in the Holy Roman Church.