Gervase and Protase

Saints Gervasius and Protasius
"The martyrdom of Saints Gervase and Protase," from a 14th-century manuscript.
Martyrs
Born	Milan
Died	2nd century AD Milan
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrine	Basilica Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy
Feast	19 June (Catholic Church) 14 October (Eastern Orthodox Church)
Attributes	the scourge, the club and the sword
Patronage	Milan; Breisach; haymakers; invoked for the discovery of thieves

Saints Gervasius and Protasius (also Saints Gervase and Protase, Gervasis and Prothasis and in French Gervais and Protais) are venerated as Christian martyrs, probably of the 2nd century. They are the patron saints of Milan and of haymakers and are invoked for the discovery of thieves. Their feast day in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church is 19 June, the day marking the translation of their relics. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, their feast takes place on 14 October (O.S.)/24 October (N.S.), the traditional day of their death. In Christian iconography their emblems are the scourge, the club and the sword.

The acta may have been expanded from a letter (Epistle liii) to the bishops of Italy, falsely ascribed to Saint Ambrose. They are written in a very simple style; it has not been possible to establish the date of their composition. According to these, Gervasius and Protasius were the twin sons of martyrs. Their father Saint Vitalis of Milan, a man of consular dignity, suffered martyrdom at Ravenna, possibly under Nero. The mother Saint Valeria died for her faith at Milan. Gervasius and Protasius were imprisoned, and visited in prison by Saint Nazarius.