Four Crowned Martyrs

Four Crowned Martyrs
memorial
• 8 November

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Along with the Fourteen Holy Helpers and the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus these guys are my favorite group of Saints. Their cult was a lot more popular back before they tried to make Roman Catholicism less fun. One of the ancient titular churches in Rome is named Santissimi Quattro Coronati, after these fellows, it was erected in the 4th century. The titular pastor of this ancient church is a Cardinal. Right now, that would be Roger Cardinal Mahoney, Cardinal Emeritus from Los Angeles.

Individually they are Saint Castorus, Saint Claudius, Saint Nicostratus, and Saint Simpronian. This quartet was a group of skilled stone carvers in the 3rd century quarries. Their work was highly prized and valued as they were so skilled with the chisel. When our good friend Diocletian wanted an idol done of Aesculapius, the god of medicine and his daughters Hygea and Panancea, our four boys told him to take a hike. Diocletian, as we know, does not have a sense of humor when it came to his pagan gods so….our boys were given the gift of martyrdom by being drowned in the river Sava in the year 305

Patronage
• against fever
• cattle
• masons
• sculptors
• stone masons
• stonecutters