Martyr 4th century

Twelve Holy Brothers Martyrs of Benevento

died c. 303

Twelve brothers martyred in southern Italy, their relics later gathered and enshrined at Benevento

Feast Day

September 1

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Commemorated as

The Holy Twelve Brothers, Martyrs of Benevento

Life

The Twelve Holy Brothers are a group of early martyrs of southern Italy who are venerated together and commemorated on September 1. According to tradition they were African by birth and suffered in various places in southern Italy in the early fourth century, around the year 303, during the persecution under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian.

The synaxarion and martyrological tradition record their martyrdoms as taking place in three groups across several days: four of the brothers were beheaded at Potenza on August 27, three at Venosa on August 28, and the remaining five at Sentiana on September 1, the day on which all twelve are now jointly commemorated. The twelve are named Donatus, Felix, Arontius, Honoratus, Fortunatus, Sabinian, Septimius, Januarius, a second Felix, Vitalis, Sator, and Repositus.

In the year 760 the relics of these martyrs were gathered together from across southern Italy and enshrined at Benevento, where they came to be venerated collectively under the title of the Twelve Holy Brothers. As pre-schism saints of the West, they are honored among the Orthodox saints of the ancient See of Rome.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

c. 303 Martyrdom at Potenza Four of the brothers are beheaded at Potenza on August 27.
c. 303 Martyrdom at Venosa Three of the brothers are beheaded at Venosa on August 28.
c. 303 Martyrdom at Sentiana The remaining five are beheaded at Sentiana on September 1, the day of their joint commemoration.
760 Translation to Benevento The relics of the martyrs are gathered from across southern Italy and enshrined together at Benevento.

Contributions & Legacy

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Two Traditions

Two distinct traditions concerning these saints have been transmitted. According to one, the twelve were the children of Saints Boniface and Thecla and were martyred shortly after their parents; the sources themselves note, however, that no reliable account of their martyrdom survives.

According to the other tradition, the title 'Twelve Holy Brothers' belongs properly to the collective enshrinement of 760, when the relics of a group of martyrs of southern Italy dating from around 303 were brought together at Benevento. On this view the description of the twelve as literal brothers reflects their later common veneration rather than a documented family relationship.

Sources: Roman Martyrology