Saint Caesarius of Africa

detail from the painting 'S. Cesareo deacon and martyr' by G. Vieste, 1805; swiped from Wikimedia CommonsAlso known as

  • Caesarius of Terracina
  • Cesario of…
  • Cesareo of…

Memorial

Profile

Deacon of an African church. During a visit to Italy, he witnessed a pagan celebration of Apollo; Caesarius objected to the human sacrifice it involved. For his interference, he was imprisoned for two years, and then for his faith he was martyred with Saint Julian.

Born

Died

  • tied into a sack and thrown into the sea to drown at Pisco Montano, Terracina, Italy, date unknown
  • body recovered and buried near Terracina
  • in the 4th century, Emperor Valentinian was cured at the shrine of Caesarius at Terracina
  • relics translated to a church on the Palatine Hill, Rome, Italy by order of the emperor Valentinian
  • relics translated to the church of San Cesareo in Palatio, Appian Way, Rome

Canonized

Patronage

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Saint Caesarius of Africa“. CatholicSaints.Info. 5 December 2023. Web. 24 April 2024. <>