Saint Genesius of Rome | |
|---|---|
 Statue of St. Genesius with mask andbaptismal font inSt. Giles Church inBraunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany | |
| Actor &martyr | |
| Born | 3rd century |
| Died | 303 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church andEastern Orthodox Church[citation needed] |
| Majorshrine | Church of Santa Susanna, Rome, Italy |
| Feast | August 25 |
| Patronage | Actors, playwrights, clowns, comedians, comics, converts, dancers, musicians, stenographers, printers, lawyers, epileptics, thieves, torture victims[1] |
Genesius of Rome is alegendary Christian saint, once a comedian and actor who had performed in plays that mocked Christianity. According to legend, while performing in a play that made fun of baptism, he had an experience on stage that converted him. He proclaimed his new belief, and he steadfastly refused to renounce it, even when the emperorDiocletian ordered him to do so.
Genesius is considered the patron saint of actors, lawyers,barristers, clowns, comedians, converts, dancers,people with epilepsy, musicians, printers,stenographers, and victims of torture. Hisfeast day is August 25.
One day Genesius, leader of a theatrical troupe in Rome, was performing before the Roman EmperorDiocletian. Intending to expose Christian religious rites to ridicule by his audience, he pretended to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.[2]
As the play continued, however, Genesius suddenly while performing had a conversion experience on stage. He announced his new faith, and refused to renounce it, even when ordered to do so by emperor Diocletian.[3] Genesius persisted in his faith, and he was finally ordered to be beheaded.
Genesius of Rome is said to have been buried in the Cemetery of St.Hippolytus on theVia Tiburtina. His relics are claimed to be kept in San Giovanni della Pigna,Santa Susanna di Termini, and the chapel ofSt. Lawrence. His legend was dramatized in the 15th century. It was embodied later in the oratorio "Polus Atella" by Löwe, and more recently in a play by Weingartner. The accuracy of the Acts, dating from the 7th century, is very questionable, though it was defended byTillemont (Mémoires, IV s. v. Genesius). Nevertheless, a Saint Genesius was venerated at Rome as early as 4th Century. A church was built in his honor, and it was repaired and beautified byPope Gregory III in 741.[2] Agold glass portrait of him dating to the 4th Century also exists.[4]
Theveneration of St Genesius continues today, and the actor-martyr is considered the patron of actors and acting societies, including those that assist actors. TheBritish Catholic Stage Guild regards him as theirpatron saint, and the Shrine of St. Genesius inSaint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in theNew York City Borough ofManhattan, serves as a spiritual landmark for the city's acting community. As the patron saint ofepilepsy, many thus afflicted turn to him for his help. Because he is associated with stagecraft, Genesius is also venerated by stage magicians andillusionists. He is one of the patrons of theCatholic Magicians' Guild. A stained-glass window depicting St. Genesius was dedicated atSt. Mary of the Angels Church inHollywood, California, in 1988.[5]
AGenesian Theatre inSydney, Australia hosts six seasons each year and is the centre of a vibrant amateur acting community. Other amateur companies around the world also use his name, including the Genesius Guild of Hammond, Indiana, which hosts an average of four productions each year and an annual children's theater camp, the Genesius Theater ofReading, Pennsylvania, basis for theLincoln Center production ofDouglas Carter Beane's "Shows for Days"[6] starringPatti LuPone, Saint Genesius Productions ofVilla Park, Illinois, a youth theatre group that aims to build leadership and community through the theatre arts, and the Genesius Guild and Foundation in theQuad Cities in the United States, which focuses on classical Greek Drama.
A new association in theRoman Catholic Church,The Fraternity of St Genesius, has been founded under this Saint's patronage. It aims to support men and women who work in theatre and cinema.[7]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
