Caesarius of Terracina
| Saint Caesarius of Africa | |
|---|---|
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| Deacon and Martyr | |
| Died | c. 3rd century Terracina, Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Terracina |
| Feast | 1 November |
| Attributes | palm, Gospel, sack |
| Patronage | patron saint of Roman emperors, has replaced and Christianized the cult of Julius Caesar; invoked against drowning, flooding, and for the good success of Caesarean section. |
Saint Caesarius of Africa, also Caesarius of Terracina (Saint Cesario deacon in Italian) was a Christian martyr. The church of San Cesareo in Palatio in Rome bears his name.
Caesarius was a deacon of Africa, martyred at Terracina in Italy. Caesarius denounced the pagan custom of having one youth per year immolate himself to the demons by jumping off a cliff in honour of the god Apollo. The priest of Apollo had him arrested and taken before the governor. He was sentenced to be sewn into a sack and thrown into the sea. He was martyred together with Julian, a local presbyter. While the death of Caesarius has been placed as early as 60 or 110, it is more likely that he actually lived in the 3rd century and died during the reign of Diocletian.
His feast is held on 1 November.
In the 4th century, the Emperor Valentinian I's daughter was healed at his shrine. The emperor then decided to move his relics from Terracina to Romeas a mark of royal favour. They were taken to a church on the Palatine Hill, and when they were later moved to a new church near the Appian Way which got the name San Cesareo in Palatio.
Terracina Cathedral (Cattedrale dei Santi Pietro e Cesareo) is dedicated to him and Saint Peter.
Caesarius of Terracina is the saint chosen for his name to replace and Christianize the pagan figure of Julius Caesar; then there is the Julian, associated with Saint Caesarius, in Italy, whose church at the Imperial palace on the Palatine in Rome, recorded from the seventh century, shows that the name was interpreted in terms of the imperial title that originated with Julius Caesar. Caesarius of Terracina also achieved prominence because a church, the imperial chapel, was named after him by Valentinian III, an example of a saint with a suitable name being chosen as a patron. Caesarius was the obvious patron for the chapel of the Caesars.
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