Crowned Martyrs
Sculptors Claudius, Castorius, Symphorian, and Nicostratus refused to carve a ‘graven image’ of Aesculapius (the Greco-Roman god of Medicine). So, they were condemned to die in the reign of Diocletian (AD 284-305), placed in lead barrels, and drowned in the Danube.
Their story is more confused than most, there are a total of 9 Crowned martyrs in a group of five and a group of four. Four soldiers were killed for refusing to worship Aesculapius, and five sculptors refused to carve a statue. Or vice versa, or it’s all a mix-up. To cap it all, their Saint’s Day has been changed from November 8th to the 9th. I’ll let you sort it out by looking it up here!
Patrons of sculptors, stonemasons, stonecutters; against fever; and for a reason, I have not been able to find out: cattle.
The crowned martyrs were venerated in Saxon England as the Venerable Bede mentions a Church to them in Canterbury. It is thought relics were sent to Kent in 601. Perhaps because St Augustine came from a monastery near their Church in Rome: Basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati in Rome.
Read my post on St Augustine’s Mission here:
First published 8 November 2021, republished 2024, 2025
Discover more from And Did Those Feet
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
In France, a Saint is celebrated each day, and it’s nice to get a hello from friends when the day comes.
Mine is November 5th, Guy Fawkes day, which is why I remember that event!