The Holy Four Crowned Martyrs
Ss. Quatuor Coronatorum Martyrum
The Four Crowned Martyrs were soldiers and craftsmen of the early Church, honoured at Rome from ancient times, who gave their lives for Christ in the age of persecution.
On the eighth of November the Church commemorates the Holy Four Crowned Martyrs, venerated at Rome from the earliest ages of the faith. Their cult is of great antiquity, fixed upon the Caelian Hill, where a church bearing their name — the Santi Quattro Coronati — has stood for many centuries and bears witness to the honour in which they were held by the Roman people.
Martyrs of the early Church
The history of these martyrs is wrapped in some obscurity, and the ancient sources have handed down their memory in more than one form. By long tradition they are reckoned as four soldiers who suffered death at Rome for refusing to offer sacrifice to the false gods, and whose own names were for a time unknown to the faithful — whence they were honoured simply as the “Four Crowned Ones,” crowned, that is, with the crown of martyrdom. Their memory came to be joined with that of a group of Christian sculptors of Pannonia, who, according to their Acts, were put to death under the Emperor Diocletian because they would not carve an image for a heathen temple nor deny their faith.
Where the particulars are uncertain, the Church holds fast to what is sure: that these were true martyrs, who confessed Christ and laid down their lives rather than worship idols, and that their memory has been venerated at Rome across the centuries. They stand among that great company of the early martyrs whose courage was the gift of grace, and in keeping their feast the faithful give thanks for the strength which God supplies to his servants in the hour of trial, and profess their communion with all the saints.
The Collect
Patronage
They are venerated as early martyrs of the Roman Church, and have long been honoured as patrons of stonemasons and sculptors.
In the Modern Calendar
In the modern calendar this commemoration is no longer kept on the universal calendar.
Common Questions
When is the feast of the Four Crowned Martyrs?
Their commemoration is kept on 8 November in the calendar of the 1962 Roman Missal, as a Fourth Class feast. In the modern calendar it is no longer observed on the universal calendar.
Who were the Four Crowned Martyrs?
They were martyrs of the early Church venerated at Rome from ancient times. By tradition they were four soldiers put to death for refusing to sacrifice to idols, whose names were for a time unknown — whence they were honoured as the “Four Crowned Ones.” Their memory was joined with that of a group of Christian sculptors of Pannonia martyred under Diocletian for refusing to carve a pagan image.
Why are they called the “Crowned” Martyrs?
The title refers to the crown of martyrdom won by those who give their lives for Christ. According to the ancient tradition, the names of these soldier-martyrs were for a time unknown to the faithful, who therefore honoured them simply as the Four Crowned Ones.
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