Saint Gallicanus was a Roman martyr inEgypt in 363 AD, during the reign ofJulian. A former general, he converted to Christianity and retired to Ostia where he was involved in a variety of charitable works. The Emperor exiled him to Egypt, where he was later martyred.
Gallicanus was from a prominent Roman family with important political connections.[1]According to his "Acta" (inActa SS., June, VII, 31), he was a distinguished general in thewar against the Persians. He was honored with atriumph and was held in affection by the emperorConstantine. He was also consul withSymmachus in 330 and perhaps also once before withCaesonius Bassus in 317.[2]
According to a medieval legend, Gallienus was at one time the fiance of Constantine's eldest daughter,Constantia and was converted to Christianity by her soldier bodyguardsJohn and Paul.[3] He then retired toOstia, endowed a church built byConstantine I, and founded a hospital where he worked with SaintHilarinus. There he washed the feet of the poor, prepared their table and served them, carefully waited on the infirm, and performed other works of mercy.[4]
Under Julian he was banished to Egypt, and lived with thehermits in the desert. He was put to the sword at Alexandria for refusing to sacrifice to idols.[4]
A small church was built in his honour in theTrastevere of Rome. Hisrelics are at Rome in the church ofSant'Andrea della Valle. The legend of his conversion was dramatized in the tenth century by the nunRoswitha.[5]
Gallicanus is commemorated on 25 June.[1] He is depicted as hanging his armor on a cross.[6]
A different Gallicanus was the seventh bishop of theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Embrun from 541 to 549.[7]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Sts. Gallicanus".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.