Saint Gennaro - Monastery of the Capuchins
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Saint Gennaro - Monastery of the Capuchins |
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THE MARTYRS OF POZZUOLI In 305 A.D. the provinces of the Empire were shocked by the fury of the Christian-hunting, ordered by Diocletian to give to the State an image of seeming power, while the administrative and military structures were creaking worms-eaten by contradictions. Time was ripe for the triumphal entrance of the Christianity in the society.
The high officials of Rome, who were put at the head of the institutions of Pozzuoli and of the other Phlegraean localities, were all eyes and ears to discern (and to eavesdrop) any signals which could come from the followers of the new religion. At the end of an eucharistic rite, it was arrested in Miseno the deacon Soss(i)o, who enjoyed fame of sanctity. He was bound by a close friendship together with Procolo, deacon of Pozzuoli. Caio Valerio Proculo quivered knowing that his dearest coreligionist was shut up in the prison of Pozzuoli, awaiting his judgement, which certainly would have ended with the condemnation ad bestias, to be executed in the arena of the Amphitheatre Flavi. He did not hesitate even for a while - heedless of danger - to make up his mind, coming to a decision which had been matured in his soul: with his laic collaborators Eutichete and Acuzio he tried to contact the Levite of Miseno to bring him comfort.
Procolo was impressed seeing him so debilitated, one day that he managed to visit him clandestinely thanks to the complicity of a Christian jailor. Soss(i)o bore marks of heavy blows. On horseback, together with his loyal friends, he went to the Governor of Campania. His cry was one of entreaty and protest: "You must free Soss(i)o! He is a Roman citizen, his family vaunts numerous merits to Rome!". As a reply, he was handcuffed. Then they called back Marco Aurelio Eutichete and Sesto Acuzio Salutare, who were in the anteroom and they were arrested too. The 2nd of June the three followers of Christ were in prison, where it had been shut up already for some weeks Soss(i)o.
They were still in jail the deacons Soss(i)o, Procolo and the laymen Eutichete and Acuzio on that 17th of September, when they arrived in Pozzuoli the Bishop Gennaro, the deacon Desiderio and the lector Festo, arrested during the night in the haul organized by the security services of the new Governor Aulo Timoteo, succeeded to Gneo Draconzio Labieno. Also the Bishop of Benevento and his collaborators in Nola had been condemned ad bestias and the day after they were thrown in the arena together with the imprisoned Phlegraean Christians, to be devoured by wild beasts.
In the Amphitheatre Flavi it happened the portentous miracle, which belongs to the religious tradition of the Church of Campania. The beasts kneeled down before the seven brethren of faith. Immediately moved to the forum, the Magistrate condemned them to decapitation.
On the hill of the Solfatara, where the harsh smell of sulphur reminds us of the pagan myths of Hephaestus and of the infernal Flegetonte, singing Our Father, Gennaro, Proculo, Soss(i)o, Eutichete, Acuzio, Festo and Desiderio, one after the other, laid their head on the cippus on which fell the blade of the headsman. It was the 19th of September 305 A.D. Gianni RACE "Pozzuoli: storia, tradizioni e immagini" |
| The Monastery: | Telephone 0815261114. It is possible to take picture or to effect shots. Visitors are invited to assume a respectful behaviour towards the environment and the works in the Archaeological Park. Trespassers will be prosecuted under the laws in force. |
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Road network: | from Naples (highways) Enter the Tangenziale of Naples direction Pozzuoli. Exit n. 11 Agnano. At the cross road, turn left direction Napoli - Bagnoli - Fuorigrotta. Go on straight passing the traffic lights. At the cross road turn right entering Via Domiziana direction Pozzuoli and continue as far as the Monastery which is a few metres away from the Solfatara. from Naples (downtown - main station of piazza Garibaldi) Direction Porto - Piazza Municipio. Continue for Mergellina and Fuorigrotta. Here it is possible to enter the Tangenziale direction Pozzuoli, or to go on for via Domiziana as far as arriving at the cross road for Pozzuoli - Agnano. At the traffic lights turn left entering Via Domiziana direction Pozzuoli and continue as far as the Monastery which is a few metres away from the Solfatara. from Rome to Naples - via Domiziana Continue for Baia Domizia, Mondragone, Castel Volturno. Then cover the freeway SS. n° 7 Quater which takes on the Tangenziale of Naples (Exit Pozzuoli - Arco Felice), or cover via Domiziana (SS. n° 7 Quater). Follow indications for Napoli, Pozzuoli. The Monastery is a few metres after the Solfatara. |
