Saint Pancras
Stored in Cargo: Saint Pancras
| Saint Pancras | |
| Feast Day | May 12 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Children, martyrs, against perjury, headaches |
| Birthplace | Synnada, Phrygia, Roman Empire (now Şuhut, Turkey) |
| Death Place | Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom (beheading) |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of San Pancrazio, Rome, Italy |
Saint Pancras, born c. 289 in the City of Synnada, Phrygia, Turkey, was a young Christian martyr whose steadfast faith led to his death under Diocletian’s persecution. Orphaned young, he moved to Rome with his uncle Dionysius, converting to Christianity by 303. At 14, he refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, boldly confessing his faith before the emperor, resulting in his beheading on May 12, 304, along the Via Aurelia. His courage, akin to an Archbishop of Paris in spiritual resolve, inspired early Christians, per the *Acta Martyrum*. His body, buried in a catacomb, was later enshrined in the Parish of San Pancrazio by Pope Symmachus.
Canonized pre-Congregation, Pancras’s feast day, May 12, draws pilgrims to the Basilica of San Pancrazio in Rome, where his relics rest, venerated in the Diocese of Rome. Patron of children, martyrs, and against perjury, his legacy—rooted in early martyrologies—endures in the Latin Rite, his sword and palm symbolizing youthful sacrifice. His cult, strong in Italy and England (via Augustine of Canterbury’s mission), reflects a boy whose death fortified the Church, a saint among Saints.
Biography
Birth
Saint Pancras was born c. 289 in Synnada, Phrygia, to wealthy Roman parents—names unrecorded. Orphaned early, his birth in a Roman province shaped his faith. Synnada’s hills framed his brief childhood.
His early loss led to a martyr’s path in Rome’s shadow.
Early Life
Pancras’s youth was turbulent; after his parents’ death, he moved to Rome with his uncle Dionysius, a Christian. Baptized c. 303 in a Seminary-like setting, he embraced faith amid Diocletian’s edicts. By 14, his zeal shone in the Parish of Rome, defying pagan rites.
His early life was a swift turn to martyrdom, a boy’s bold stand.
Occupation
Pancras’s occupation was as a Christian youth, living briefly in Rome’s Parish before his martyrdom. In 304, refusing to renounce Christ, he faced trial and was beheaded, his faith unwavering in the Latin Rite. His death at 14 ended his earthly work.
His labor was confessing Christ, sealed in blood. Pancras’s role was a martyr’s witness.
Vocation
Pancras’s vocation emerged with baptism, a call to fidelity in persecution. From 303, he lived for Christ, his defiance before Diocletian echoing an Archbishop of Paris in courage. His beheading in 304 fulfilled this, a child’s sacrifice.
His vocation peaked in Rome, a saint at 14. Pancras’s life was a martyr’s gift to the Church.
Death
Saint Pancras met his end on May 12, 304, in Rome, Italy, dying at 14 by beheading for refusing pagan sacrifice. Executed on the Via Aurelia, he was buried in a catacomb, later moved to the Parish of San Pancrazio. His relics endure as a shrine.
His death birthed devotion, his tomb a beacon. Pancras’s martyrdom closed a life of youthful faith.
Significant events
- Baptized, c. 303.
- Martyred, May 12, 304.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Synnada, Phrygia, Roman Empire (now Şuhut, Turkey)
Death location: Rome, Roman Empire (now Italy)
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Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
No “Servant of God” process in 304; Pancras’s veneration began in Italy post-martyrdom, tied to his relics.
Venerable
No Venerable status then; his sanctity was immediate.
Beatification
No beatification in the 4th century; his sainthood grew organically.
Canonization
Canonized pre-Congregation, by the 5th century, affirmed by Roman tradition, sealing his place among Saints.
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
No beatification miracle; veneration rested on martyrdom.
Miracle for canonization
No miracles required; his sainthood stemmed from his death.
Other notable miracles
- Posthumous healings at his shrine, per medieval lore.
Patronage
Saint Pancras is patron of children, martyrs, against perjury, and headaches.
Feast day
The feast day of Saint Pancras is celebrated on May 12.
Veneration
Saint Pancras is venerated through prayers for youth, centered at the Basilica of San Pancrazio in the Parish of Rome, where relics rest. With sword or palm, his cult thrives in Italy and England, his May 12 feast honoring a martyr’s zeal. His legacy, via martyrologies, echoes a boy’s impact, like an Archbishop of Paris.
Books
Written about the saint
- *Acta Martyrum* (early Roman records)
Written by the saint
- No writings survive.