Maternus (bishop of Milan)

For Saint Maternus of Cologne, see Maternus of Cologne.
Maternus
Archbishop of Milan

5th-century Mosaic of Maternus
Church Catholic Church
Appointed c. 316 AD
Term ended c. 328
Predecessor Mirocles
Successor Protasius
Personal details
Died c. 328
Sainthood
Feast day 18 July
Venerated in Catholic Church

Maternus (Italian: Materno) was Archbishop of Milan from c. 316 to c. 328. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic Church and his feast day is on July 18.[1]

Life

Almost nothing is known about the life of Maternus. He was elected as bishop of Milan in c. 316 and reigned until about 328.[2]

Maternus is believed to have discovered at Lodi Vecchio the remains of saints Nabor and Felix, who had been martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303, and then relocated these relics to Milan, where a church known as the (Basilica Naboriana) was built in their honor.[3] Maternus also completed the construction of the Basilica vetus, which had been started in 313 and was the first cathedral of Milan, located in the area now occupied by the present Cathedral of Milan.

Maternus died c. 328 on July 18th, which was later set as his feast day by the Catholic Church. His body was also buried in the Basilica Naboriana, but in 1258 it was moved to the church of Saint Francis of Assisi which replaced it. On April 14th 1798, shortly before the demolition of the church, they were again moved to the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, located a few hundred meters to the south. They reside there today in an ancient sarcophagus within the right-hand nave of the church, along with the relics of Saints Nabor and Felix, as well as Saint Valeria.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ruggeri, Fausto (1991). I Vescovi di Milano. Milano: NED. p. 9. ISBN 88-7023-154-2.(Italian)
  2. ↑ Cazzani, Eugenio (1996). Vescovi e arcivescovi di Milano. Milano: Massimo. p. 15. ISBN 88-7030-891-X.(Italian)
  3. 1 2 Pasini, Cesare (1990). "Materno di Milano, santo (sec. IV)". Dizionario della Chiesa Ambrosiana 4. Milano: NED. p. 2112–2114. ISBN 88-7023-102-X.(Italian)
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