Passion of Hermagoras and Fortunatus

Passio Hermachorae et Fortunati

Standard abbreviation: Pass. Herm. Fort.

Other titles: Acts of Mark in Aquileia (prologue only)

Clavis numbers: ECCA 165

Category: Apocryphal Acts

Related literature: Golden Legend 59

Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Passion of Hermagoras and Fortunatus.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/passion-of-hermagora-and-fortunatus/.

Created September 2024.

1. SUMMARY

Hermagorus and Fortunatus were saints of Aquileia sometime in the third or fourth century. This text is part of an effort to connect the church of Aquileia to a first-century apostolic mission; in the process, the two protagonists become contemporaries to Mark and Peter, who are featured heavily in the text’s prologue.

It begins with the apostles casting lots for missionary locations. Peter is sent to Rome and brings with him Paul and Mark, identified here as the first disciple of Peter. After some time Peter tells Mark to preach in Aquileia. When he reaches the city he is met by a young leper named Arnulphus, son of the nobleman Ulfius. Mark heals Athaulf, who then tells his father what happened. Another nobleman, Celerius, sends his own leprous son to Mark; the two healings convince Ulfius of the power of Mark’s God, so he is baptized along with the rest of his household. After some successful years of preaching and healing, Mark decides to journey back to Rome. His supporters ask Mark who will replace him; he allows them to pick their own leader, and they choose Hermagoras. Together Mark and Hermagoras travel to Rome where Hermagoras is ordained by Peter as the archbishop of Italy (in the later recension [BHL 3840], Peter has been martyred, so Mark ordains Hermagoras in Aquileia).

Hermagoras returns to Aquileia where he establishes churches and ordains clergy. Many flock to him for healing but he also makes enemies among the pagan priests. The priests come to Sebastius, the governor, and demand something be done about Hermagoras who is making their temples desolate by seducing the people with his magic. Sebastius apprehends Hermagoras and interrogates him about his beliefs. Refusing to make sacrifice to the pagan gods, Hermagoras undergoes a series of grisly tortures, but all these do is stir up the people to proclaim him innocent. Sebastius throws Hermagoras in prison, but even there he continues his ministry. One night a great light and perfumed odor fill the prison; these phenomena convince a guard named Pontianus to convert and he runs through the streets proclaiming his new faith, bringing others to the prison for healing. Among them is a nobleman named Gregory; Hermagoras heals his twelve-year-old son, who was tormented by a demon for three years.

The Christians of the city come to Hermagoras and ask him who will lead them if he is executed. He orders them to ordain the archdeacon Fortunatus, his disciple. Fortunatus immediately displays his suitability for the role by healing a blind woman named Alexandria. When Sebastus hears of this, he imprisons Fortunatus. Still, people flock to the prison for healing, so that the priests pressure Sebastius again and he finally relents, beheading the two men. Gregory and Alexandria take the bodies and anyone who comes near to them are healed. The day of the saints’ death is given as 12 July.

Named historical figures and characters: Agrippa (nephew of Nero), Alexandria (of Aquileia), Athaulf, Celerius, Fortunatus, Gregory (of Aquileia), Hermagorus, Mark (evangelist), Nero, Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Pontianus, Pontius Pilate, Sebastius, Ulfius.

Geographical locations: Aquileia, Belluno, Ceneda, Como, Istria, Italy, Rome.

2. RESOURCES

2.1 Art and Iconography

Cycles of Mark, Basilica of San Marco: two sets of images, one in the Capella di San Pietro, the other in the Cappela Zen, from the 12th/13th century, depict scenes from the text.

“Saints Hermagoras and Fortunatus.” Christian Iconography. Includes images based on the text featured in a twelfth-century fresco cycle in the crypt of Aquileia’s basilica.

2.2 Web Sites and Other Online Resources

“Hermagoras of Aquilaeia.” Wikipedia.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Latin (BHL 3838 and 3840)

Gottwig, Benedictine monastery, cod. 52 (olim F 10), fols. 44^v–48^r (12th/13th cent.) ~ BHL 3838; IMAGES

Klosterneuberg, Augustiner-Chorherrenstift, cod. 72, fol. 385 (1452) ~ IMAGES

Klosterneuberg, Augustiner-Chorherrenstift, cod. 76, fol. 197^v (15th cent.) ~ IMAGES

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Lat. 5322 (13th cent.) ~ GALLICA

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Lat. 5323 (13th cent.) ~ GALLICA

Bolland, Jean, et al., eds. Acta Sanctorum, Julii. Vol. 3. 3rd ed. Paris: V. Palmé, 1868 (pp. 238–46; Latin text from Mombritius, pp. 240–44).

Mombritius, Boninus. Sanctuarium seu Vitae Sanctorum. Milan: Tip. epónima, 1477–1478; repr. Paris: Fonetmoing et Socii, 1910 (Latin text, vol. 2, pp. 7–11).

Chiesa, Paolo, ed. “Passio Hermachorae et Fortunati.” Pages 133–99 in volume 1 of Le passioni dei martiri aquileiesi e istriani. 2 vols. Edited by Emanuela Colombi. Rome: Istituto storico italiano per il Medio Evo, 2008–2013 (text, pp. 172–88).

Veronese, Maria, Ada Gonzato, and Massimiliano Poncina, eds. Passioni e Atti dei martiri. Scrittori della Chiesa di Aquileia 2. Rome, 2002 (text from Acta Sanctorum, pp. 40–54).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 Italian

Veronese, Maria, Ada Gonzato, and Massimiliano Poncina, eds. Passioni e Atti dei martiri. Scrittori della Chiesa di Aquileia 2. Rome, 2002 (pp. 41–55).

3.3 General Works

Cerno, Mariana. “L’officina agriografica di Aquileia: Strategie del reimpego nella contesa con Grado per il titolo patriarcale.” Rivista di cultura classica e medioevale 55.2 (2014): 361–403 (pp. 364–73).

Lipsius, Richard A. Die apokryphen Apostelgeschichten und Apostellegenden, 2 vols. in 3 parts. Braunschweig: C. A. Schwetschke und Sohn, 1883–1890 (see vol. 2.2, pp. 346–51).

Thurston, Herbert, and Donald Attwater, eds. Butler’s Lives of the Saints. 4 vols. New York: P. J. Kennedy and Sons, 1963 (vol. 3, p. 84).

Veronese, Francesco, and Gieulia Zornetta. “Holiness on the Move: Relic Translations and the Affirmation of Authority on the Italian Edge of the Carolingian World.” Medieval Worlds 13 (2021): 54–75.